Cursing to keep your cool
Luke Baker
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Health
What the f@#k? Why do some people feel that cursing relieves them of their stress, and does cursing actually relieve stress or does it actually bring more on?
A recent article from MSNBC.com brings up the notion that swearing is more prevalent in the toughest of times. MSNBC.com talked with a Los Angeles Psychotherapist, Nancy Irwin, to confirm that.
The economic hell that the country is in, pardon the language, can be a major factor in why people are resorting to cussing and "dropping the F-bomb" as some may say it more than usual.
In colleges and universities everywhere, it is getting close to finals. Many are cramming at the end of the year, and stress levels are rising. The Flyer interviewed several students and people ages 18 to 25 as to whether they swear and the reasoning behind why they do or not.
Meet Laura Terborg. She is a 23-year-old Business Communications major who really feels that it's "unladylike" to swear. However, there are those rare occasions that a bad word might slip out of her mouth.
"If I swear, which is seldom, I am alone and it's an instant reaction to something--like someone pulling out in front of me while I am driving and I need to make an immediate stop. If people are swearing around me, I think it's crude and I don't take that person as seriously. It doesn't promote stress, but it can promote an unprofessional atmosphere," Terborg said.
Some may believe that swearing is a stress reliever. Jayne Joyce is 20 years old and undecided about her major. She believes that swearing is a form of verbal venting, yet at the same time she feels that it isn't an intellectual move.
"I think swearing is a false stress releaser. It decreases your vocabulary and the ability to effectively communicate to others, thus becoming more difficult and creating more conflict," Joyce said.
Then, there are students like Bridget Callahan. At 23, she is taking on a hefty workload for her second year in law school. To her it seems to be a great option in times of heightened anxiety.
A recent article from MSNBC.com brings up the notion that swearing is more prevalent in the toughest of times. MSNBC.com talked with a Los Angeles Psychotherapist, Nancy Irwin, to confirm that.
The economic hell that the country is in, pardon the language, can be a major factor in why people are resorting to cussing and "dropping the F-bomb" as some may say it more than usual.
In colleges and universities everywhere, it is getting close to finals. Many are cramming at the end of the year, and stress levels are rising. The Flyer interviewed several students and people ages 18 to 25 as to whether they swear and the reasoning behind why they do or not.
Meet Laura Terborg. She is a 23-year-old Business Communications major who really feels that it's "unladylike" to swear. However, there are those rare occasions that a bad word might slip out of her mouth.
"If I swear, which is seldom, I am alone and it's an instant reaction to something--like someone pulling out in front of me while I am driving and I need to make an immediate stop. If people are swearing around me, I think it's crude and I don't take that person as seriously. It doesn't promote stress, but it can promote an unprofessional atmosphere," Terborg said.
Some may believe that swearing is a stress reliever. Jayne Joyce is 20 years old and undecided about her major. She believes that swearing is a form of verbal venting, yet at the same time she feels that it isn't an intellectual move.
"I think swearing is a false stress releaser. It decreases your vocabulary and the ability to effectively communicate to others, thus becoming more difficult and creating more conflict," Joyce said.
Then, there are students like Bridget Callahan. At 23, she is taking on a hefty workload for her second year in law school. To her it seems to be a great option in times of heightened anxiety.
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