Swearing, also known as cursing, broadly refers to the use of taboo words.^[1]

The specific mechanisms by which swearing bolsters physical performance remain to be pinned down, but several compelling hypotheses exist. These hypotheses include psychological effects, such as promoting psychological arousal, or the activation of mental and emotional states (e.g., excitement, tension).^[1]^[2] Evidence suggests that swearing increases ratings of emotionality,^[3]^[4]^[1] and swearing produces distinct neural activity relative to other types of speech.^[1]^[2]

Psychological arousal is generally associated with physiological arousal, as evidenced by changes in measures like heart rate variability and blood pressure in response to emotional stimuli.^[5] Consequently, interventions that induce psychological arousal can influence physical performance.

Listening to music has been found to alter various psychological and subjective outcomes, including motivation, mood, and feelings of power and fatigue.^[6] Correspondingly, listening to music that is in accordance with an individual’s preferences commonly improves physical performance across a spectrum of tasks.^[6] Similarly, swearing may produce emotional states that augment the amount of effort exerted during physical tasks, resulting in improved performance.

A second psychological mechanism that may contribute to swearing’s ergogenic effect is an increase in state disinhibition, meaning that the person swearing is less likely to hold back and better able to express their full potential while performing a task. Swearing has been found to increase several correlates of state disinhibition, including risky behavior, psychological flow, self-confidence, and distraction.^[4]

Another way that swearing could boost physical performance is through a hypoalgesic or pain-relieving effect. A collection of studies indicate that swearing increases a person's pain threshold and pain tolerance, as frequently evidenced by an increase in the amount of time someone is able to hold their hand in ice water.^[7]

Plausible mechanisms by which swearing may boost physical performance

Adapted from Washmuth et al., 2024, Front Psychol.

Cursing appears to improve exercise performance Original paper