Study Links Swearing to Temporary Increase in Physical Endurance

A collaborative study conducted by researchers at the University of Keele in the United Kingdom and the University of Alabama in Huntsville has provided new insights into the immediate effects of profanity on physical performance. The research, formally published in the journal American Psychologist on December 18, 2025, investigated the psychological mechanisms behind performance enhancement associated with swearing, building upon prior findings that link profanity to improved physical output in strenuous activities.

The experimental design involved 192 participants performing a chair push-up task, which required them to support their full body weight from a seated position using only their arms. During this demanding exercise, participants were instructed to repeat either a self-selected swear word, such as 'Fuck' or 'Shit', or a neutral control word at a consistent two-second interval. The results demonstrated a measurable advantage for the group utilizing expletives: those who swore sustained the bodyweight hold for an average duration that was 11% longer than their counterparts repeating neutral terminology.

Dr. Richard Stephens, a psychologist from Keele University and the study's lead author, suggested that this performance surge is not driven by a 'fight or flight' response, but rather by inducing a 'disinhibited state of mind.' This state involves a temporary relaxation of internal or social restraints, potentially allowing individuals to operate beyond self-imposed physical limitations. Post-exercise questionnaires supported this mechanism, as participants who swore reported elevated levels of self-confidence and a greater sense of 'psychological flow,' indicating deep immersion in the activity with minimized distraction.

Dr. Stephens characterized swearing as a "calorie-free, non-medicated, low-cost, and readily available tool" for accessing peak performance during immediate necessity. The research team, which also included Nicholas Washmuth, DPT, from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, is now planning future investigations to determine if this disinhibition effect translates to non-physical tasks where hesitation is a factor, such as public speaking or initiating social interactions. Previous research has also connected swearing to increased pain tolerance in contexts like ice water immersion challenges, suggesting the effect is tied to overcoming the behavioral inhibition system that prioritizes social propriety over maximal effort.