Swearing Trends: When It’s Okay And Common Cursing Habits
Curse words are a part of human communication. We all have our reasons for dropping a few choice words now and then.
Remember the days when getting your mouth washed out with soap was a consequence of swearing? Seems like those days may be gone now. A poll conducted by YouGov surveyed 14,000 people about their introduction to regular swearing. About 10% confessed to engaging in profanity by the age of 10, with an even smaller 4% claiming they were “younger than 8” when they began.
Interestingly, 19% of respondents claimed they had never adopted the habit of cursing regularly. Among those who did, about 18% acknowledged starting between the ages of 14 and 16, while 13% reported they started between 11 and 13, and another 13% stated they began between 17 and 19. Moreover, 14% admitted they didn’t begin swearing regularly until they were “20 or older.”
Swearing, Why Do People Do It?
Guiding Exceptional Parents reported that swearing is a basic biological response used by creatures who have language. They also mentioned that swearing allows us to endure pain for longer and can serve as a social bonding experience. The parenting magazine noted that cursing is a more “socially acceptable response” than, for instance, hitting someone. However, they added, “It doesn’t feel very socially acceptable when your 9-year-old lets loose with words you would never dare to say.”
When Is It Okay to Swear?
Let’s be real: swearing and cursing all come down to personal preference. Some people feel it’s acceptable at any time, while others scale back occasionally. But when is it okay to swear? From personal experience, I would say when you’re angry, when someone cuts you off in traffic, when you wake up late from work, and when your computer decides to auto-restart during a major project.
According to Psychiatrist.com, the act of swearing can be a distraction, increasing a person’s ability to tolerate pain and discomfort. They added that profanity can help people process emotions, establish social bonds, and express their feelings in certain situations.
