Swearing can make you stronger, study finds | Science | News

Scientists say swearing can improve your performance in the gym or during strength and endurance tests. Researchers asked 192 people to do chair push-ups while saying a swear word or a neutral word.

Those who turned the air blue were able to support their body weight for significantly longer. Study co-author Dr D., of Keele University in Staffordshire. Richard Stephens said: “These findings help explain why swearing is so common.

“Swearing is literally a calorie-free, drug-free, low-cost tool that is readily available when we need to boost our performance.”

Researchers found that people who cursed reported higher levels of psychological “flow,” a state in which people are immersed in an activity in a pleasant and focused manner.

Dr Stephens added: “In many cases people consciously or unconsciously restrain themselves from using their full strength.

“Swearing is an easy way to help you feel focused, confident, less distracted and to ‘go on’ a little more.”

Study co-author Nicholas Washmuth, from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, US, said the team will now look at situations where success depends on overcoming hesitations.

He added: “Our labs are now examining how profanity affects public speaking and romantic approach behaviors, two situations in which people tend to hesitate or second-guess themselves.”

The findings were published in the journal American Psychologist.