SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the firetruck?-feedback?-flick?-fiddleneck?-feedback?-flock? dept.
The F-word's hidden superpower: repeating it can increase your pain threshold:
There have been a surprising number of studies in recent years examining the effects of swearing, specifically whether it can help relieve pain—either physical or psychological (as in the case of traumatic memories or events). According to the latest such study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, constantly repeating the F-word—as one might do if one hit one's thumb with a hammer—can increase one's pain threshold.
The technical term is the "hypoalgesic effect of swearing," best illustrated by a 2009 study in NeuroReport by researchers at Keele University in the UK. The work was awarded the 2010 Ig Nobel Peace Prize, "for confirming the widely held belief that swearing relieves pain." Co-author Richard Stephens, a psychologist at Keele, became interested in studying the topic after noting his wife's "unsavory language" while giving birth, and wondered if profanity really could help alleviate pain. "Swearing is such a common response to pain. There has to be an underlying reason why we do it," Stephens told Scientific American at the time.
[...] The result: "Only the traditional swear word (the F-word) had any effect on pain outcomes," said Stephens. They also measured the subjects' pain threshold, asking them to indicate when the ice water began to feel painful. Those who chanted the F-word waited longer before indicating they felt pain—in other words, the swearing increased their threshold for pain.
Journal Reference
Stephens, Richard, Robertson, Olly. Swearing as a Response to Pain: Assessing Hypoalgesic Effects of Novel "Swear" Words, Frontiers in Psychology (DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00723)
Does it work as well in other languages? What about [non]-English-speaking people?
(Score: 5, Touché) by claywar on Tuesday June 09 2020, @11:16AM (4 children)
Sorry, but I believe you misspelled 'systemd.' That really gets my emotional processing going.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday June 09 2020, @12:15PM (3 children)
So, the very definition of politically incorrect, could be used to test alternate words. Whatever words are most upsetting or emotionally charged for the individual could be tested as well. Simply running down the Carlin list [youtube.com] isn't a high level emotional hit for everybody.
We had an elderly neighbor who "went Tourettes" one day, not sure if it was intentional or not, but 25% of her repeated phrases were "Pussy Galore," apparently it did something for her.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Touché) by looorg on Tuesday June 09 2020, @12:21PM (2 children)
Perhaps she just watched Goldfinger and had sweet thoughts about Sean Connery?
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Tuesday June 09 2020, @04:54PM (1 child)
When I watch Goldfinger I have sweet thoughts about Honor Blackman.
The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Tuesday June 09 2020, @05:54PM
I don't judge, she could have leaned that way to. It's just a bit weird now that she is dead and all. But I don't judge ...