According To Science, Swearing = Honesty
A new study shows there might be a connection between swearing and honesty. https://t.co/hEa8hALQQV
— Discovery (@Discovery) January 23, 2017
Vice News – Let’s face it: we all swear. Some of us do so more than others. But while it’s generally frowned upon to be a foul-mouthed mess in public, new science is telling us that people who curse a lot actually might be more honest and trustworthy than those who stick to a conservative vocabulary.
According to a joint study (aptly titled “Frankly, We Do Give a Damn”)—published by the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Maastricht University this month—cursing, both online and in real life, is heavily associated with honesty because honest people get emotional, and emotional people swear.
“There are two conflicting perspectives regarding the relationship between profanity and dishonesty. These two forms of norm-violating behavior share common causes, and are often considered to be positively related,” the study reads.
“On the other hand, however, profanity is often used to express one’s genuine feelings, and could therefore be negatively related to dishonesty. “
Not convinced on this. Not convinced swearing = honesty. In fact I think it’s the exact opposite. When I’m lying and you’ve really backed me into a corner I start lashing out with profanity on profanity on profanity. I don’t calmly and honestly walk you through a lie. Who has that kind of poise? That kind of talent? No one. When you lie you start ramping up the swearing. You do it for the exact reasons this survey thinks swearing means people are more honest. It comes off as genuine. If you’re passionate and dropping hard swear words left and right people have no choice but to believe you. Who could be that intense about something and lying about it? Impossible.
Basically this study just details what makes a good liar. Are you passively, courteously speaking about your story? You’re a bad liar. No one will believe you. Are you riled up, dropping f-bombs for no reason? Blood boiling, four-letter words flying? Great liar. Very believable.
PS — My mission with this blog was to write it without swearing. I have a huge pet-peeve for people who take any story about swearing and immediately swear.
They think it’s hilarious. They think it’s genius. Was tough to not swear in the blog about swearing but despite how it may sometimes appear, Barstool is not all about the glory. Sometimes it’s about the grind.