The Function of Swearing in Small Groups

Within the space of jocular humor, we're allowed a certain range of free heads. We're just kind of allowed to throw a little bit of mud at each other in that way. In small work groups, which are sort of pushed to the edge of their capacity, they really need to judge each other's emotional tone and whether they can handle it. And so for example, as such work groups typically someone's nickname will be their most embarrassing feature.