Americans are cursing today more
than ever before.
In fact, the average American utters
80 to 90 curse words every day.
That's about five curse words every waking hour.
And it might not be in vain.
Turns out swearing may help you
live a healthier, happier life in the long run.
When you stub your toe
and holler your favor dirty, four-letter word;
you're actually doing yourself a favor.
Swearing has been known to raise your heart rate,
which can help reduce the pain.
For example, one study found that people
who held their hand in icy water
while cursing lasted 50% longer
than people who used neutral words like "wooden."
And "flat."
And if you're still not convinced
that you should curse more, consider this.
Swearing could be the key to improving workouts.
Researchers asked people to curse
while riding a stationary bike and holding a device
that measured handgrip strength.
Turns out participants pedaled faster and gripped stronger
while spewing their favorite expletives.
And swearing won't just help you get more fit;
it can also reduce stress and anxiety.
One study found that swearing helped drivers better cope
with their frustration on the road
whenever a pedestrian illegally crossed the street.
And, in fact, this kind of emotional relief
is so common, it has a name: lalochezia.
Scientists think that this relief is one reason
why we've evolved to curse in the first place
because it's a way for us to express strong emotions
like anger and frustration without having
to throw a punch or act out.
And this method of choosing words
over violence has other benefits, too.
Studies show that people who curse are perceived
as more genuine and sincere.
And researchers have found that people
who can list the most swear words also come across
as more honest when they're measured on a lie scale.
But there's still one place
where cursing is almost always out of the question: work.
But you might have a good excuse to swear there, too.
Hey, what the (beeping)!
Researchers studied a team of workers
at a soap factory in New Zealand, and looked
at the use of one particular swear word.
Um...
It starts with an F.
It ends with a K.
I think you know which word.
Turns out that using the "f-word" helped workers
express politeness, alleviate tension,
and bond with each other.
But we're not saying you should go and curse out your boss.
Although a little swearing here and there can't hurt.
I mean (bleeping) it might even help.