Swearing Actually Reduces Physical Pain

A 2009 study by psychologist Richard Stephens found that people who swore while holding their hand in ice-cold water could tolerate the pain significantly longer than those who used neutral words. The effect is linked to the emotional arousal swearing triggers, which activates the fight-or-flight response and dampens pain perception. Swearing's power comes precisely from its taboo status.

Source: NeuroReport (2009) — Richard Stephens et al., Keele University