The Enduring Power of Profanity
So, it turns out, that there is actually a lot of psychology behind profanity (also known as swearing and cursing). Profanity tends to stick out because it is rooted in social taboos–words or actions that are considered to be socially prohibited, or in the least, heavily looked down upon.
Profanity has historically tended to use subjects such as illegitimacy of birth, religion, bodily functions, and sexual activity as the catalyst. So, given the derogatory nature of this kind of language, it tends to bring attention to the speaker–which is usually the given motivation for using profanity in the first place.
Historically, swearing and cursing actually referred to two separate dynamics. Swearing was reserved literally for swearing (as in taking an oath) or by taking the name of deity (God) in vain. Cursing, on the other hand, was more personal in nature as it tended to be directed towards a single individual.
In today’s world, of course, profanity is pretty much ubiquitous in its nature–there is not much or a line between swearing, cursing, or obscenities. Along with those lines being blurred, religious-based profanity has also lost its sting. This is due to more people identifying as non-religious and honestly just the loosening and relaxing of our current social mores.
These same studies on the historical evolution of profanity have also concluded that without the religious-tint or stigma to some of these words, that they are perhaps merely being used for cathartic emotional release. Or, in other words, to communicate greater emotional intensity.
I can only speak for myself, of course, but it’s interesting because I was raised in a very conservative religious household. And, in this household, were two parents with pretty terrible tempers. So, while I didn’t hear any religious profanity growing up, I did hear…other types of words, haha.
Somewhat ironically, the end result of all of this for me was me going my own way while still choosing to follow the religion of my birth. Which I say to give context to how I’ve used profanity in my own life. Much like my parents, I don’t tend to use religious-based profanity, but unlike them, I’ve chosen not to use it much at all. And this is because the use of profanity, for me, can trigger (internally only, at least) the lovely temper that I doubly-inherited from my parents.
So, psychologically speaking, and for my own mental health, when do I actively choose to use profanity? Because, as we all know, 99% end up swearing for some reason at some point in time. To answer is, I do try to only reserve my use of profanity when I am enduring intense physical pain with my body. And what’s interesting with this is that studies have been done that have proven that the usage of profanity can help us cope, in the moment, with physical pain.
Anyway, I imagine that maybe most of this is old news to all, but I did find it interesting that both the meaning and context of profanity has changed through the ages. I think the usage of profanity is truly an individual indicator of not just choice, but personality as well.
Read the full article here.
My questions to you all, for all of this, are pretty open-ended ones. How would you describe your usage of profanity in terms of frequency and context? And, would you say (on any level) that profanity usage is perhaps somewhat necessary for you to express yourself as well as your personality? Why, or why not? :)
#Words #Profanity #Swearing #Personality #Expression
Not an answer but a reflection... Growing up in a very religious country with one heavily predominant religion the experience is different here... The swearing of 'believers' tends to include a lot of saintly and godly profanities....
On the other hand... For most of my life I've been on the agnostic /atheist side and I never use religious terms if I swear even if I grew up hearing them.
I find it curious :)
@anonyLemon4233
Not an answer but a reflection... Growing up in a very religious country with one heavily predominant religion the experience is different here... The swearing of 'believers' tends to include a lot of saintly and godly profanities....
On the other hand... For most of my life I've been on the agnostic /atheist side and I never use religious terms if I swear even if I grew up hearing them.
I find it curious.
Your experience is really curious to me, as in my country, I feel like I have experienced almost the exact opposite. Because over here, the devoutly religious seem to stay away from using religious profanities. Some, more conservative denominations, also believe that saying "Oh, my God" falls under this umbrella as well.
And like I said, on the other hand, I feel like I've seen non-religious (or formerly religious) people here use those types of profanities more often.
And like you said, It really is a curious world that we live in!! :)
@sereneSunset26 I don't use profanity casually. I use it sparingly and in a non-offensive, joking way with some of my friends.
@comfortableNight4463
I am no stranger to using it in this particular context as well. Though I will say that I do have to take particular account of the people whom I'm around. Not so much that I fear offending them, but ehh, no one likes socially awkward moments, lol.
@sereneSunset26
A refreshingly different topic. For Members for whom English is a second language, you may see or hear the word cussing which refers to swearing or profanity. It's a modification of the word cursing with the r sound elided or dropped, and it's often heard and found in the American South.
In my family of origin, swearing was frequent, usually used in anger or frustration with someone or something. I try not to use it anymore but sometimes it slips out.
@InquireWithin
A refreshingly different topic. For Members for whom English is a second language, you may see or hear the word cussing which refers to swearing or profanity. It's a modification of the word cursing with the r sound elided or dropped, and it's often heard and found in the American South.
In my family of origin, swearing was frequent, usually used in anger or frustration with someone or something. I try not to use it anymore but sometimes it slips out.
Thank you for the compliment. And ironically, even though English is my first language, I wasn't aware of that relation between the words cursing and cussing; you definitely taught me something new today. :)
For my family of origin, I would say that there was a double-standard for swearing. And because of this (and many other things), the environment was always tense--especially with the adding swearing. For myself, as I noted, swearing tends to trigger my inherited temper, so I tend to avoid it by and large.
@sereneSunset26
I really like this article. For me personally, of course swearing and profanity is rather still taboo in work and professional situations. I definitely won't use them when meeting someone for the first time either (just my personal force of habit). But when talking to friends, singing songs and playing sports, I feel like profanity is real and contributes to the experience of a lot of my life's events. For example, a vital part of hip-hop culture is its profanity and it finds cultural meaning in those songs. For me its the same, I feel as if profanity is great way to express one self and sometimes it helps conveys feelings better! In the same way it makes sports more fun, and conversations more exciting (of course reciprocated by the other personas well)
@sunnyWriting4806
I really like this article. For me personally, of course swearing and profanity is rather still taboo in work and professional situations. I definitely won't use them when meeting someone for the first time either (just my personal force of habit). But when talking to friends, singing songs and playing sports, I feel like profanity is real and contributes to the experience of a lot of my life's events. For example, a vital part of hip-hop culture is its profanity and it finds cultural meaning in those songs. For me its the same, I feel as if profanity is great way to express one self and sometimes it helps conveys feelings better! In the same way it makes sports more fun, and conversations more exciting (of course reciprocated by the other personas well).
I feel like you are understandably wise by keeping profanity within those non-taboo contexts, as well as avoiding it for introductions. I honestly envy you in a way; because as I state yet again, my inherited temper doesn't afford me the luxury of swearing without triggering it. And I will also admit there are some specific profanities (usually involving anatomy) that kind of make me feel gross hearing (or using) them.
That said, though, I feel like you are experiencing life on a different plane than me, and I will probably always wonder what that it is like, vicariously. :)
@sereneSunset26 ,,,,, I love profanity 💖
@Belladonna8203
In what particular way(s) would you say you love profanity? I've honestly enjoyed the traction (and responses) that this topic has gotten. :)
@sereneSunset26 I cuss like a sailor sometimes. Its a good release for stress and frustration. Research shows that swearing can increase pain tolerance and help build emotional resilience but it also works as a way to express yourself
@mytwistedsoul
Haha hey no judgment here. I have been known to reflexively say something that rhymes with "aww shucks" anytime I get colicky spasms in my stomach.
@sereneSunset26 I would say that I use profanity probably on the same level as the normal person. I don't think it makes me who I am, but it definitely makes me feel better when I'm frustrated and it adds humor to everything 😊
@fruityPond7887
I agree and vibe with what you said, especially the last bit. Although I found out for myself in my naivete, years ago, that I had to be careful who I used profanity around--even if the words and situation were funny to me. Lesson learned. 😅
@sereneSunset26 Hahaha so I actually had a similar instance. I definitely turned red with embarrassment and it wasn't the environment meant for it, but luckily the person who I said something to was very open and just laughed hysterically haha so it turned out okay (luckily)!
@fruityPond7887
Haha, that's awesome!! And if you feel comfortable sharing, I wouldn't mind hearing more details just for my curiosity, lol. :)
@sereneSunset26 Sure! I'll pm you because it's not something I'm proud of lol😂
@fruityPond7887
I received it haha; thank you for your candor 😂.
@sereneSunset26 great article and very introspective take! It's always so interesting how the same phenomenon can be viewed uniquely by each of us.
For me, I use profanity either as comedic fodder or emphasis or both. It's rarely used in an angry tone for me. However, I also have the same association of it to anger in context to my father and sister which i was never a fan of and me being me decided to go a very different route with it.
@zealousGrace5023
I definitely have to commend you for being able to use profanity without it activating anger. For myself, it would be nice (at least theoretically) to use profanity in a comedic context without worrying about triggering myself.
It's weird though, I've gone so long without using profanity regularly that it now seems inauthentic to my personality *to* use it. Go figure.
@sereneSunset26 haha well if its not a part of you then who cares
i dont typically like to use it a lot simply cause it doesnt sound aesthetically pleasing and i'm a material gworl 💅
jokes aside, it does sound a bit crass and i find that grating
it's just that somethings aren't inherently positive but you can use them in a positive manner
@zealousGrace5023
it's just that somethings aren't inherently positive but you can use them in a positive manner.
I really like what you said here because I think it's honestly pretty deep. It shows us that how we use words (or really anything else) in life is what matters--at least to me.
@sereneSunset26 yup basically
it's like all those sci-fi movies and books
some great invention that's for the betterment of humanity but it also can end it when used unethically
things tend to dichotomous
it's upto you which side you choose
@zealousGrace5023
That's a really good analogy and extrapolation. It's almost like there's a sorta yin-yang balance to everything in life, which is something that I have come across in a lot of eastern philosophies during the guided meditations that I have used.
@sereneSunset26 That does happen to be true for a lot of things but i find it to be a little incomplete
I think most things are multifaceted
on surface they're dichotomous but that's too simplified and things are rarely that simple especially regarding social anything
@zealousGrace5023
I would for sure agree with you that pretty much everything is multifaceted. It's funny, when I've told some people in my life this or just that I can literally see both/all sides to an issue, I have been called a fence-sitter, at least at times. But I don't know, for me I would rather have an open mind in the context of not always having a singular opinion for most everything.
yeah people tend to very disoriented by that it's almost funny to watch
@zealousGrace5023
I feel like I do know what you mean by it being fun to watch.
I think that's why I feel like in most of the conversations I have with people where I'm learning something, have been with people that I don't necessarily line up with in terms of my worldview(s). And to be honest, I find those conversations a lot more interesting than being around a bunch of people I agree with lol.
@sereneSunset26 yeah i'm the same
it's just interesting
@zealousGrace5023
Most definitely!!
@sereneSunset26 interesting article!
@leonard20
Thank you!! What did you find most interesting/intriguing about it? :)
Hey all,
How much I swear and why depends on a few things I find - who I’m spending time with, how often I speak with my mom (who is against cursing) and how much pain I’m in (emotional, mental, physical, financial etc.).
It seems there is no pattern at all though - I may swear like a trucker around my mom and tell her to keep her morals in her own lane - or I won’t swear for a long time.
Maybe it hasn’t to do with how well I’m feeling but how well my life seems to be going.
@sereneSunset26
@Dallady
I can relate to a lot of this for myself.
My own swearing habits (or lack thereof) have always a pretty decent barometer in terms of my overall health. And like you said for yourself, pain also is a huge part of the equation for me as well. There are times with my physical pain (especially with cerebral palsy-related stomach issues) where I can reflexively say the F-word. And honestly, there's a real coping mechanism for me in there 😅