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Every culture around the world has certain words that are seen as dirty, uncouth, or offensive. Swearing or using curse words has long been taboo within classrooms and in many schools, and few teachers actually know how to start discussing swearing with students.
The fact that students are constantly using new words that push boundaries compounds the difficulty of knowing which words are acceptable and which are not. In order to discuss swearing with students effectively, teachers need to be prepared with an academic understanding to dispel student misconceptions on what constitutes swearing and why it is important to consider beyond simple moral platitudes.
Students often feel that teachers not letting them speak how they want is unfair. This is often because teachers do not have good explanations for why swearing is not allowed. Abstract reasons like their offensive nature or “because we don’t use language like that here” don’t make sense to them and their lack of understanding turns to a lack of trust in the teacher and a desire to, in their minds, not be needlessly restrained.
Students also get confused because swear words of varying levels of offensiveness are lumped together. For example, a student saying “damn it” when they drop their books is a lot less offensive than a student using discriminatory language that comes closer to hate speech. Offensive language comes in many forms and swearing is just one kind. Additionally there are multiple types of swearing that all have a different social, cultural, and psychological significance.
This article will discuss recent research on swearing, its psychological purpose, and give advice to help teachers be prepared to discuss swearing with students in an academic way. This way, students will understand why certain words are unacceptable in school. In addition to this, the new research will help teachers understand the reasons why swearing is so ubiquitous around the world and see that there are actually several positive aspects to swearing.
New Research on the Purpose of Swearing
1: Swearing increases pain tolerance.
Swearing has several psychological purposes that benefit the user. Using swears can actually empower an individual, allowing them to push themselves further by acting as a sort of mental release. Previous research showed that people who used swear words could actually tolerate a higher pain level for longer. (Stephens, and Umland)
The researchers in the study had participants put their hands into ice water for as long as they could bear. One group was told to repeat a swear word while the other was asked to repeat a non swear word. The results showed that the group who was repeating the swear word as their hand was in the ice water could tolerate the cold for an average of 40 seconds longer than those who repeated a control word.
Interestingly, the researchers also found that though cursing reduced the pain experienced by the user, the more frequently the person used swear words in their daily life, the less their pain was reduced. This shows that there is a diminishing return for the pain reducing effects of swearing as people get a sort of “tolerance” to the effect of using the taboo swear.
So while swear words clearly have the ability to affect a person, it is not because these words have any power in and of themselves, but because they represent a breaking from cultural norms and a release of held back emotion. This is important when considering potential benefits of swear words as all swear words will inevitably lose their potency when overused.
2: Swearing can Improve physical performance
Another way swearing is used as a psychological release is in its effects on physical performance. Studies have shown that in addition to reducing pain, swearing allows a person to push their own bodies further in other ways as well.
In a follow up study the researchers had participants perform exercises while using a swear or neutral word every 3 seconds. (Stephens et al.) The researchers used the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test (WAnT) and the isometric handgrip test and in both exercises, the participants using swear words were not only able to push to higher peak strength, but their average power exerted throughout was also higher. So this suggests that swearing helps a person push further and go longer when performing exercises or playing sports.
This helps to explain why swearing is so common during high stress physically demanding tasks like sports. While the actual physical mechanisms of how this effect works are yet to be fully uncovered, the emotional release swearing represents helps the brain in some way to destress, refocus, and push itself further to its limits.
3: Swearing develops trust between individuals
While swearing can make people feel uncomfortable or even offended, research shows that when used correctly in the right contexts, it can actually lead to more trust between individuals and signal close relationships. One study published earlier this year found that when people used swear words in their online reviews, those reviews were viewed as being more trustworthy. (Lafreniere et al.)
The swear words were not effective if used randomly, but when used to describe products, they give off a sense of genuineness and present the reviewer as a legitimate user rather than a representative of a business. The example used by the researchers in their report was “This dishwasher is damn quiet”. If the reviewer had instead simply said “This dishwasher is quiet.”, the wording comes off as a bit stilted and strange. It could even be perceived as being generated by AI or by someone simply paid to write quick positive reviews on many products.
When the review includes a swear word, however. It signals an openness and honesty about the reviewers feelings. Even if the reviewer had chosen another more natural phrasing such as “This dishwasher is pretty quiet.” it still does not have quite the same emotion or sense of openness that the swear word evokes.
Swearing can also be a marker of a close friendship as it similarly denotes a trust between users. While randomly calling someone a “bitch” on the street would be horribly offensive, many young people call each other names like this in jest. While it may still be inappropriate in certain situations, the fact that the users are comfortable calling or being called in such a way shows that the relationship is actually quite intimate.
The subtle understanding of when such language is appropriate can be lost on young people, and so they may often test boundaries of what is acceptable in different circumstances. While it can be jarring to hear young people curse and swear, when seen in a different light, it actually denotes that the young person feels at ease and is comfortable with those around them. Parents and teachers should still help students learn when it is appropriate to use different language, but should also keep in mind that if their child or student curses in front of them, it actually means that they trust the adult and feel comfortable enough to let their guard down.
When someone uses a swear word, whether in a review, a conversation, or even a rousing political speech, it shows that the speaker is willing to break social norms to express their true inner feelings. People often appreciate this as it suggests the speaker truly believes what they are saying as they are risking consequences to say what they feel.
How to Discuss Swearing with Students
While swearing may have some psychological benefits, that does not mean that teachers should simply allow students to swear indiscriminately. There are many types of swearing and only some of them actually impart the benefits stated above.
Students simply don’t understand the linguistic and cultural aspects of swearing and so it is up to the teacher to have discuss swearing with students in a calm, educational way. This will help students see what words are appropriate, where they are appropriate, and how they can learn to consider their choice of words as new swear words arise and others fall out of fashion.
1: Help students separate swear words from hate speech.
The first important point a teacher should make when starting to discuss swearing with students is that not all swear words are created equal. Teachers should divide swearing into two categories for students and help them sort words into each category.
A: Profanity
Profanity is an umbrella term for words and actions that are considered vulgar or obscene. This ranges from using the word “shit” when a person stubs their toe, to sexual language or even just giving the middle finger. While there is often nothing objectively wrong or immoral about this use of language, it may make others uncomfortable.
B: Hate Speech
Hate speech is language or word choice that singles out a specific group of people and directly or indirectly targets them. From racist words, to sexist or homophobic language, hate speech covers language that, whether purposefully or not, attacks a specific group of people.
For example, beyond the well known racial or ethnic slurs, this also includes when students call someone or something “gay” as a replacement for the word “stupid”. While often not actually targeting gay people in a homophobic way, the usage of this word in this way still directly associates that demographic with stupidity and is therefore hate speech.
Teachers should give students the two categories of bad language and have students do a turn and talk with their neighbor to discuss which words belong in which categories. It is much better to do this in a turn and talk rather than a full class discussion as it gives students a chance to discuss things that may be uncomfortable with a single friend rather than shouting out their opinions of what is hate speech or not in front of the whole class.
After they have all had a chance to discuss swearing with other students and decide what they feel belongs in each category, the teacher can bring the discussion carefully back to the whole class to answer questions and dispel any misconceptions. This conversation should be dealt with carefully, and the teacher should be ready to step in if students say things that are out of line, especially when discussing hate speech.
Even though it may be difficult and awkward, teachers should not simply avoid having these conversations. It is important to get these feelings up to the surface so that they can be addressed. If students have differing opinions on the use of hate speech than the teacher or their classmates, they should not simply be silenced and punished. This will only cause them to be resentful of not only the group they are marginalizing, but also of the teacher and classmates that shut them down.
While probably no student is going to change their position on an argument right in front of all of their friends, planting a seed of perspective taking can help them to be more considerate later on. The teacher must be very mindful to protect people from targeted attacks, but they must also realize that if they don’t allow differing opinions to join the conversation, they are simply preaching to the choir who already agrees with them and further alienating those who disagree.
2: Explain that bans on swearing are to help them build a filter.
Students might think at the end of this exercise that profanity is acceptable to use and hate speech is unacceptable to use. While profanity is not immoral, that does not mean that it is without consequences. Regardless of the teacher’s or students’ opinions on these types of swears, they will need to understand that in the real world there is a time and a place for profanity and a time for a more careful choice of words. When trying to discuss swearing with students, teachers need to go beyond opinions and morality and explain things in an academic way.
Profanity should still be banned in the classroom, not because it is “vulgar” or shows a lack of vocabulary, but in order to help students develop a filter and consider their language register in various situations. While it might actually be the sign of a close relationship for a student to teasingly call their friend a “dumbass”, they need to realize that they can not speak like that in formal situations such as class.
While most adults use profanity on a regular basis, very few jobs would be ok with the use of profanity on the clock. Even if profanity might be acceptable in some cases with certain colleagues, there are times such as interviews or other meetings, when it is almost never acceptable. Making students aware that there is a time and a place to use different language registers will help them learn to be mindful of their word choice in relation to the context they are in.
Class should be considered a formal time, and students should refrain from using swear words after the first bell rings. The teacher should fully admit that there is nothing wrong with the words themselves and explain that this is to help them learn to be mindful of their word choices. Then students will be less likely to be annoyed by the limiting of their speech as they have a reason that makes sense to their brains.
This also helps students understand that even if they feel that they use words differently than the teacher and times have simply changed, that they still need to be using different words when in a formal setting that takes into account not only their younger speech styles, but also considers how other groups might think and feel as well.
This is especially important in the discussion of hate speech as many groups try to “reclaim” hate speech used against them in order for those words to be less painful. Whether this be a black student using the n word or a gay student using the f word, this is totally unacceptable in the classroom. While the student might argue that since they are a part of the group being targeted, it is ok for them to use it, this shows they are only thinking of their own perspective.
These words are still uncomfortable for many others, part of the targeted group and those outside. These usages might be popular in music or between close friends, they are completely unacceptable in the classroom. When working to discuss swearing with students, it is important to be firm on hate speech, while showing flexibility on other types of swearing.
3: Consider letting them swear in the halls, but not the classroom.
By making the classroom a place where students need to consider their language choices more carefully, students will get practice in what is called “code switching”. Code switching is where a language user has to mindfully switch from one language, formality register, or even accent in different situations. The more that students learn to switch between different types of language usage, the better they will be at switching completely and not letting words slip through.
While some schools might feel it is enough practice for students to speak how they want outside of school and switch as soon as they are on campus, schools can give students more practice code switching by allowing students to speak more freely in the halls and during break time and only require strict filtering within the actual classrooms.
This will depend on the culture of the school and what teachers are willing to tolerate, but the more students have to switch in and out of different language registers, the better they will be at doing so. In addition, this can help students not feel constantly restrained at school and view it less like a restrictive prison. Whatever position the school takes, when teachers or administration discuss swearing with students, they need to be explicit about when it is acceptable and when it is not.
Giving students a break not only from academic learning, but also from policing their language, can help them feel better at school. It is important to remember that there is nothing inherently wrong with many types of profanity and as shown above, there are actually many benefits. Using this type of language represents a bit of emotional release, something many students under high pressure might actually really benefit from.
Conclusion
While profanity and other types of swearing may be offensive in some situations, they actually have an important psychological and linguistic purpose. Using these types of words helps students to destress, push themselves further on the sports pitch, and can even help them develop trust and rapport with their friends. When trying to discuss swearing with students, it is important to admit the positives of swearing and not be seen as simply old fashioned.
Despite these benefits, swearing is not appropriate in all situations. Teachers need to keep firm boundaries on where swearing is allowed so that students can learn to code switch more easily. Whether that be as soon as they walk on campus or into the classroom, students need to learn to consider their language choices based on location and context. In order to be effective when teacher discuss swearing with students, they need to approach swearing like they would any other topic in school.
Teachers can help students develop this filter firstly by helping students separate out simple swearing from hate speech. They also need to create a place for students to practice code switching, whether that be once as they walk on campus or each time they enter and exit a classroom.
Lastly, teachers need to facilitate discussions on word choices so that as new words come into the lexicon, students will already have the tools to decide where the word is best suited. This will help students not just be more respectful of others, but be more generally understanding and mindful of how the language they use is perceived by others.
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References
Lafreniere, Katherine C. et al. “EXPRESS: The Power Of Profanity: The Meaning And Impact Of Swearwords In Word-Of-Mouth”. Journal Of Marketing Research, 2022, p. 002224372210786. SAGE Publications, https://doi.org/10.1177/00222437221078606.
Stephens, Richard et al. “Effect Of Swearing On Strength And Power Performance”. Psychology Of Sport And Exercise, vol 35, 2018, pp. 111-117. Elsevier BV, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.11.014.
Stephens, Richard, and Claudia Umland. “Swearing As A Response To Pain—Effect Of Daily Swearing Frequency”. The Journal Of Pain, vol 12, no. 12, 2011, pp. 1274-1281. Elsevier BV, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2011.09.004.
Washmuth, Nicholas B., and Richard Stephens. “Frankly, We Do Give A Damn: Improving Patient Outcomes With Swearing”. Archives Of Physiotherapy, vol 12, no. 1, 2022. Springer Science And Business Media LLC, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-022-00131-8.
