How Swearing Can Boost Your Performance

Darn it!

At WEIDER, we always follow the latest scientific findings when formulating your products.

We also try to support you in every way possible to achieve your sporting goals as best and as quickly as possible.

Today's science-based training tip has nothing to do with products, equipment or special fitness exercises. Everything you need to improve your athletic performance is already inside you - you just have to let it out!

“The effect of swearing on physical performance.” F*** yeah! Long live science!

The work of Nicholas B. Washmut and colleagues (published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology ) begins with the following short summary:

"It has been shown that swearing or the use of offensive language that has the potential to offend people can increase physical performance during short and intense bouts of strength and power exercise."

It continues:

“Swearing is a complex social and linguistic phenomenon that has existed for centuries.”

The exact mechanisms by which swearing can improve performance have not yet been fully deciphered. However, it has been proven to have physiological (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure), psychological (disinhibition) and nociceptive (related to pain perception) effects. An interplay of these effects seems likely.

In addition to the positive effects on physical performance, swearing can also increase credibility, strengthen social bonds and even improve memory performance.

Pioneering work: Swearing in sports

In 2018, researchers Stephens, Spierer, and Katehis pioneered swearing research when they published their article “ Effect of Swearing on Strength and Power Performance .”

In the study, participants were asked to repeat either a normal word or a swear word during a 30-second test of anaerobic capacity and a grip strength test. The choice of swear word used was particularly interesting: the subjects were asked to choose the word they instinctively say when they hit their head, for example.

The result: +4.5% anaerobic performance and +8% grip strength.

Since Stephens and colleagues were apparently on to something big here, they conducted additional experiments and were able to replicate the results of their first study.

New findings: The 2023 study

In 2023, Jiannine and Antonio investigated the effect of swearing on grip strength, push-ups to failure, and wall sits and planks to exhaustion.

The subjects were asked to choose the swear word they instinctively use when they stub their toe. The majority of participants chose the popular "F***" (51.5%), followed by "Sh!t" (38%). During the exercises, they had to repeat the chosen word every 5 seconds.

The results:

• Grip strength: +9%
• Push-ups: +15%
• Wall sits: +22%
• Planks: +12%

What do we still not know?

Although the studies are promising, there are still scientific uncertainties. For example, it is not clear how swearing can be used strategically or applied in everyday situations.

Washmut and colleagues even investigated the optimal dosage - that is, the choice of swear words, intensity, frequency and total amount. There may be a habituation effect, so people who swear frequently may expect a smaller effect. More research is needed.

Conclusion

The authors summarize:

“Swearing is a low-risk, effective and inexpensive method of improving physical performance.”

However, the (often negative) nature of swearing could limit its use in reality. Washmut and colleagues therefore suggest imagination or particularly quiet swearing as an alternative - however, these modifications have not yet been scientifically tested.

In the end, the decision is yours: Do you want to attract unpleasant attention in order to improve your performance, or would you rather stay quiet and preserve your image?

As the saying goes:

“When you no longer care what others think of you, you have reached the highest level of freedom!”