Profanity: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

I love profanity, but I think if it's used too much, it just sounds a little trashy. I think it's more effective when it's dropped intelligently. I like intelligent profanity. – Katie Aselton

Profanity is somewhat of an enigma. We know on the positive side that research has shown that there are definite emotional benefits to using profanity.

On the negative side, we are also aware of some obvious downsides. How do you feel about using profanity? How do you feel about other people around you using profanity? How does the environment or social setting change your attitudes on this subject? What would you tell your nine-year-old about using profanity?

The term profane originates from the classical Latin word profanus, literally "before (outside) the temple," pro meaning "outside" and fanum meaning "temple, sanctuary." The derivation suggests profanity was viewed as unholy. The word was coined during the 1450s.

We can see the early use of profanity (Middle Ages) as language that was considered to be offensive to religiosity. Profanity may have even been a desperate attempt to separate oneself from the church. Perhaps this was an early rebellion of moving toward more secular thinking outside the control of the church.

Ironically, the evolution of profanity over the centuries has become much more complex. We have research that both supports and maligns the use of profanity. There are both positives and negatives associated with using profanity. Let’s look at the benefits first and then the costs.

The Benefits of Using Profanity

Research has found that using profanity has several benefits. A 2023 study revealed that the usage of profane language had significantly inverse correlations with stress (r = −0.250; p < 0.01), anxiety (r = −0.161; p < 0.05), and depression (r = −0.182; p < 0.01). Higher profaners also revealed significantly lower levels of depression (M = 29.91, SD = 10.80 vs. M = 33.48, SD = 10.40; p = 0.009; Cohen's d = 0.338) and stress (M = 30.83, SD = 11.41 vs. M = 35.16, SD = 11.31; p = 0.003; Cohen's d = 0.381) as compared to lower profaners. Profanity had no significant correlations with age (r = 0.031; p > 0.05) and education (r = 0.016; p > 0.05). Men projected significantly higher levels of profanity as compared to women.

In another study, researchers found swearing can sometimes provide pain relief and emotional benefits:

• Studies suggest that cursing can reduce the perception of pain, providing a measurable analgesic effect, by as much as 33 percent.
• The act of swearing can be a distraction, increasing an individual’s ability to tolerate pain and discomfort.
• Profanity can help individuals process emotions, establish social bonds, and express their feelings in certain contexts.

People who swear in the right way and in the right consequences are judged to be more authentic. Profanity appears to support a feeling of independence and honesty, which many people find refreshing. There is an acceptance and approval by many that profanity allows them to be more direct and not compromise their feelings. These people say that they “feel more real” when they express themselves without restraint.

The Costs of Using Profanity

In a 2019 study, speakers using profanity had poorer impression ratings on several variables, including overall impression, intelligence, and trustworthiness. Speakers swearing in mixed-gender dyads were rated as less sociable, and males swearing in mixed-gender dyads were rated as more offensive. Language choices matter, and more research is needed to understand the unconscious biases held against those who use profanity.

In business, profanity can hurt your brand. Because swearing alienates people, it can really diminish your brand. We know this intuitively.

In one study, CareerBuilder.com found that bosses tend to look down on employees who swear. Sports recruiters say rough language can cost college students recruitment opportunities.

Self-Control Essential Reads

When Do People Think Abstinence or Moderation Is Better?

Buddha, Darwin, and Dumbledore: How to Override Our Impulses

Like any repetitive language, including profanity, the words tend to lose power and meaning with overuse. Movies have become so saturated with profanity we hardly notice anymore. The power of the message has been diluted with overuse.

It’s no different in the world of speaking, blogging, and podcasting. Many in the audience may not care, but many certainly will.

Being disrespectful of your audience impacts your message. Your message is going to be diminished. When your message is diminished, your brand will be diminished as well.

Reflex Versus Reflection

Profanity tends to be reflexive and impulsive. Because it is usually triggered by some emotion, thought may not always be engaged. Our reflex reactions to life’s challenges can sometimes be automatic and unconscious. Whatever the level of profanity, whether aggressive, hurtful, or demeaning, which may not be intentional, the impact is still real. Reflexive behaviour, including profanity, most likely emanates from frustration or angst, which could be elusive to our conscious control.

Through reflection and consciousness, reflexes could be brought back into control. We can be more selective and less automatic in our language if we take the time to reflect on what words are best for the situation at hand. We could even move, with effort and self-control, toward a more intelligent profanity.