Swearing as a performance aid: promising evidence, premature promotion

Swearing has recently emerged as a promising strategy for improving performance on short, intense physical tasks. Controlled experimental studies have shown that swearing can improve strength, anaerobic power, muscle endurance, and explosive performance, although the underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Due to the inappropriate nature of swearing in social settings, the translation of swearing’s controlled experimental effects to the real world requires mindful evaluation. This perspective paper uses Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations framework (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) to provide a theory-informed evaluation to determine whether swearing should be promoted in real-world settings. Although swearing is cost-free, readily available, and easy to test, researchers have tested its effects only in controlled experimental contexts. Because the effects of swearing are context-dependent, its impact on performance likely varies by setting, audience, demographics, and cultural norms. We conclude that broad promotion is premature, but swearing warrants continued investigation as a performance-enhancing strategy with potential practical value.