This surprising behavior would be common to intelligent people
Beneath their clumsy and fleeting appearance, swearing can sometimes reflect a superior intelligence. A team of researchers from the University of Rochester revealed that people with stronger brains swear more often. An observation that divides, especially when we know that insults sometimes leave indelible marks on their recipients, we are entitled to ask ourselves how could the most intelligent among us show so much indecency?
This unprecedented correlation between intelligence and abnormal behavior was uncovered after analyzing a panel of 1,000 participants who had to answer a questionnaire listing 400 specific behaviors. A large sample that never fails to arouse our curiosity. We understand the results as supporting scientific explanations.
Abuse, indicator of high intelligence?
In a moment of frustration or anger, words can sometimes fail. From standardized insults to demeaning insults, verbal violence never ends well for those who suffer it, like a blow inflicted on them. This is exactly what Macduff, a character in William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth, explains. Analyzing Frédéric Laub and Colette Rieu, authors of a linguistic study of insults in the playwright’s plays, “The weapon we use to strike is the word.” “Insult is performative: it is only through words that we act (say that is to do), and we might even say that the work accomplished by insult cannot be accomplished by this means alone, “The experts continue.
But swearing would not be a simple deviation from language. According to researchers, they do not reflect the literal poverty we often imagine. A study published in 2015 in the journal linguistics Supports this hypothesis: People who could utter a larger number of swear words in a minute scored better on IQ tests. Scientists say that this linguistic mastery reflects rhetorical power.
It feels good to abuse!
When bad words are heard the mind becomes free. Although verbal abuse can cause harm, it also has benefits. According to psychologists at Keele University, insults act as a natural painkiller. Dr. Richard Stephens’ team observed that swearing improves physical performance during intense exercise. According to researchers, swearing stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for physiological responses to threat, such as increased heart rate.
Far from a simple verbal release, swearing emerges as a physiological adaptation mechanism, which calls into question the stereotypes associated with its use. However, this surprising marker of intelligence must be used with caution, otherwise you risk offending others with cruel words. This is no reason to excuse his rudeness by resorting to any kind of intelligence!