Stubbing your toe, hitting your thumb with a hammer, or experiencing any other sudden and sharp pain can often lead to a string of expletives. But why do we swear when we hurt ourselves?
There are a few reasons why this might happen. One possibility is that swearing is a way of expressing the intense pain that we're feeling. When we're in pain, our brains release a flood of endorphins, which can have a numbing effect. Swearing may help to further increase the release of endorphins, which can help to reduce the pain we're feeling.
Another possibility is that swearing is a way of coping with the stress of being injured. When we're hurt, we're often feeling a mix of emotions, including anger, frustration, and fear. Swearing can be a way of releasing these emotions and helping us to deal with the stress of the situation.
You can hold your hand in ice cold water longer when you swear while doing so, but the effect is diminished if you casually swear too often, fun science: https://media.pluto.psy.uconn.edu/Swearing%20as%20a%20Response%20to%20Pain_Effect%20of%20Daily%20Swearing%20Frequency.pdf
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This is why as an English teacher, I feel that expletives have a place in everyday conversation. I won’t get turned off when someone uses a profanity with me. Because to me, f*** and b**** are just words. They help the speaker express his/her emotions effectively. Now that I know that swearing induces endorphins, I am more inclined to be empathetic whenever someone feels the urge to swear!
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I'm going with your last sentence XD
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