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Swearing really does help

Scientists say people swear when they hurt themselves because it actually reduces the pain.

A study by researchers at Keele University found volunteers were able to withstand pain for longer when they swore.

The researchers, whose findings are published in the journal NeuroReport, tested 64 students’ tolerance to pain by asking them to submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as they could while shouting swear words.

They were then asked to carry out the task again while repeating non-offensive words they would use to describe a table.

They found that volunteers who swore were able to keep their hands submerged in the water for an average of 40 seconds longer. They also rated their pain lower.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .