Swearing during moments of physical strain may do more than release frustration. It could actually help people push themselves further, according to new research from Britain.
A study conducted at Keele University and published in the journal American Psychologist found that using swear words during physical effort can improve performance by reducing psychological barriers, boosting confidence and helping people sustain effort for longer periods.
Researchers said the effect is not driven by increased heart rate or heightened physiological arousal, as previously believed. Instead, it appears to stem from subtle changes in mental state that lower inhibitions and reduce internal resistance.
In the experiment, about 300 participants were asked to perform a physically demanding task: lifting themselves off a chair using only their arms and holding the position for as long as possible. Each participant completed the task twice — once while repeating a swear word of their choosing and once while repeating a neutral word.
The results were consistent. Participants were able to hold the position significantly longer when swearing than when using neutral language.
The words were not assigned by the researchers. Participants selected a swear word they would naturally use if they stubbed a toe, as well as a neutral word similar to something used to describe an everyday object. The personal emotional weight of the swear word, the researchers said, was key to its effect.
Medical psychologist Efi Gil of Clalit Health Services said the findings challenge long-standing assumptions about why swearing can enhance performance.
“Until now, many studies assumed swearing worked by increasing physiological arousal,” Gil said. “This research shows something different — that swearing also works on a psychological level, by reducing mental blocks rather than stimulating the body.”
Gil explained that swearing can act as a form of mental distraction during exertion, shifting attention away from discomfort, doubt or self-criticism and back to the task itself. It can also increase self-confidence and temporarily lower social inhibitions.
“In everyday life there is a social taboo around swearing,” he said. “When someone allows themselves to break that taboo privately, it can create a feeling of release that translates into extra energy and focus.”
Researchers believe the effect may extend beyond exercise to other situations that require a mental push, such as competitive sports, physical rehabilitation or moments requiring assertiveness or courage. Similar mechanisms may be at play in martial arts shouts or the loud grunts common in professional tennis, Gil said.
Clinical psychologist Yarden Gabay said swearing appears to create a brief shift in self-perception that reduces hesitation.
“It’s not a physical mechanism but a psychological one,” Gabay said. “Swearing can create a momentary ‘I’m going for it’ mindset, with fewer inhibitions and less self-judgment.”
However, both experts stressed that context matters. The effect applies to private or internal speech, not swearing directed at others.
“Swearing is emotionally charged language,” Gil said. “Socially, it can be offensive. But psychologically, when used privately, it can activate something that helps performance.”
The researchers also found that softened substitutes or polite alternatives did not produce the same effect. Without emotional weight, the psychological impact disappeared.
The study does not recommend swearing as a general coping strategy, the experts cautioned. Instead, it highlights how language — particularly emotionally charged language — can influence thought, perception and performance in specific, limited situations.
“It’s an interesting finding,” Gabay said, “but not a therapeutic recommendation. It describes a narrow, situational effect, not a solution for everyday challenges.”