Two experiments with 192 participants repeated a swear word or a neutral word every two seconds during a chair push-up, then assessed mental states such as positive emotion, humor, distraction, self-confidence, and flow.

Researchers found the performance boost aligns with increased psychological flow, higher self-confidence, and reduced distraction, pointing to disinhibition rather than a fight-or-flight arousal.

Initial hypotheses of a fight-or-flight response gave way to evidence that swearing promotes disinhibition, not heightened heart rate.

This study builds on earlier work from 2018 and 2022 showing swearing improved strength in a chair push-up task.

A study published in American Psychologist reports that swearing can enhance physical performance by helping people overcome inhibitions and push themselves harder during strength and endurance tasks.

Beyond strength tasks, the F-word was shown to increase pain tolerance during ice water immersion, while neutral or invented words had no effect.

The article frames swearing as socially designated and readily available, potentially allowing individuals to push through difficult moments without external aids.

A caveat is noted: the appropriateness of swearing depends on audience and context to avoid negative social consequences.

The performance boost is linked to heightened flow, focus, and confidence, reinforcing the disinhibition mechanism.

The study emphasizes that the observed effects remain within everyday language use and do not imply swearing is universally beneficial in all settings.

The article discusses the origin and prevalence of the f-word, including its historical dictionary appearance and etymology.

Cross-cultural notes indicate Americans use the f-word more often, while Australians tend to be more creative in variants.