Plenty of us enjoy blasting out a few swear words – but what makes it feel so good? Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University and author of Black Sheep: The Hidden Benefits of Being Bad, tells Jacob Jarvis how swearing can stop pain, make us stronger and help us form closer friendships.

“Swearing does appear to make you stronger.”
“People are more disinhibited after swearing.”
“Swearing can be a social bonding tool.”
“You can enjoy a well placed swear word, can’t you? You can think, ‘That was skillful.’”

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Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.

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