Have you ever wondered why some words are considered “bad” in the first place? Who decided which words we’re not supposed to say—and why does yelling one after stubbing your toe somehow make you feel a little better?

In this episode of Wondering About, we’re wondering about curse words. Where did they come from? Why are certain words considered offensive? Does swearing actually affect our brains and bodies? And why do the words that shock one generation barely get a reaction from the next?

We dig into the history and science behind profanity, find out what research says about people who swear, and—of course—talk about our own relationship with those four-letter words.

So whether you swear like a sailor or still spell out the bad words, this episode is for you.

What the @#$% is it about curse words? Come wonder with us!

Citation:

Jay, T. (2009). The Utility and Ubiquity of Taboo Words. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(2), 153–161.Adolphs, R., et al. (1999). A role for the human amygdala in recognizing emotional arousal from unpleasant stimuli.Van Lancker, D. (1987). Nonpropositional speech: Neurolinguistic studies.Does swearing at work get the job done? - Sean Stonefield, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43442410Profanity Can Sometimes Be the Best Medicine, Increasing Pain Tolerance by ~ 33%, Psychiatrist.com, https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/profanity-can-sometimes-be-the-best-medicine-increasing-pain-tolerance-33-percent/