| Letting out a well-timed expletive can feel pretty cathartic, but it turns out it can do more than make us feel better — it can also make us stronger. English psychologist Richard Stephens first got curious about the effects of swearing after watching his wife give birth — was it just a reaction to the pain, he wondered, or did cursing actually act as a physical boon? He first tested his theory in 2009 by having subjects repeat a swear word of their choice while their hand was submerged in ice-cold water. The subjects who cursed lasted an average of 160 seconds — one minute longer than those who used non-swear words. In 2024, Stephens, along with Samford University associate professor Nick Washmuth, released another study showing that cursing during exercise indeed had measurable benefits. Participants were asked to repeat a swear word of their choice every three seconds during a Wingate Anaerobic Power Test — essentially a measurement of muscle performance during short, intense bursts of effort — and for 10 seconds before and throughout the duration of a grip-strength test. The results showed swearing increased peak power by 4.5% during the Wingate test and improved grip strength by 8% compared to using neutral words. During push-ups and planks, swearing every five seconds increased the time subjects were able to continue before total fatigue by 15% and 12%, respectively. As impressive as that data is, scientists still haven't been able to pinpoint an explanation. It was initially chalked up to the boost in strength provided by the adrenaline released during one's fight-or-flight response. But later studies showed that not every participant demonstrated the changes in heart rate associated with the fight-or-flight response. The bottom line, however, remains clear: A timely curse word may not give you superhuman strength, but it could very well give you a crucial edge when you need it most. | 
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