Overview
- Across two experiments with 192 adults, repeating a self-chosen swear word during chair push-ups extended hold time by about 11% versus a neutral word.
- Post-task surveys linked the benefit to higher psychological flow, greater self-confidence and helpful distraction, pointing to disinhibition rather than a fight-or-flight surge.
- The peer-reviewed paper consolidates earlier replicated findings that swearing increases pain tolerance and short-term power in lab tasks.
- The team plans follow-up trials testing dose–response with stronger language and exploring effects in non-physical contexts such as public speaking and romantic approach behavior.
- Authors note the gains are modest and task-specific, may wane for habitual swearers due to desensitization, and carry social risks if used inappropriately.