Perceived Effect of the use of Profanity in Dealing with Stress Among 3rd year CLA Students

An Undergraduate Thesis

Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Psychology

In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements

in PSYCH 114 (Research in Psychology)

Clee Van Jeff C. Abad

Christian Dave A. Alga

2017

CHAPTER 1
 INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

The study regarding profanity and its function as a coping mechanism and its relationship with

stress is a bit complex and complicated. People and society generally think the use of profane

language or swearing are just mere bad habitual behaviour or just part of the socio cultural

aspect of the people in the society. When we were kids it was natural to us that we were taught

by our parents, teachers elder ones that profanity is bad and we should avoid it. But as we grow

old more we cant avoid or escape the fact the profanity is part of our daily lives, Almost every

day hear people using profane language on the streets, school or to almost every places we go.

The researchers believe With this type of perception of profanity this study can help people

and individuals understand the bright side of profanity and give them a different perspective

on how it can be a help on teens and in their everyday stressful life. This study focuses on the

teens, as we know teenage life can be so stressful and troublesome. This research can not only

help teens but all other people in different walks of life who are affected and always dealing

with stress. Furthermore this study can be an eye opener to people who thinks of profanity in a

traditional way and it may help them understand its benefits to the people.

OBJECTIVE

To identify how teens use profanity and understand how they us it as a coping

mechanism and its relationship with stress.

To determine the effectiveness of profanity and how it is used in situations indulged

with stress

To be able to help future researches and experiments regarding this complex study
 RATIONALE

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Does using of profane language affects the students level of stress?

2. Do students use profane language whenever they feel stress?

3. How does using profane language differ in age, gender, etc.?

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The concept of this study is shown in Figure 1, the interplay of variables. The

dependent variables of the study are the profanity and stress and the age and gender of

students are consider as the independent variables. The double arrow that connects the two

dependent variables shows on how they influence one another. And the box below containing

the age and gender shows how the independent variables affects the two dependent variables.

Figure 1. Interplay of Variables

Profanity Stress

Age
Gender

DEFINITION OF VARIABLES
 The Dependent of variables of these study are Profanity and Stress while the

Independent variables are Age and Gender.

Profanity- an utterance of profane or bad language

Stress- a state of mental tension and worry cause by problems in your life, work etc.

Coping mechanism- are ways to which external or internal stress is managed, adapted to or

acted upon.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Profanity or using of bad language is very common especially on people nowadays.

Its found in all places in individuals everyday life, some people use bad words in an office

or at School or sometimes just anywhere when you feel that you just need to release those

words. Consider cuss words, also known as curse words, swear words, profanity, bad

language, and what not to say on television. Most psychologists use taboo words, a term so

nonjudgmental that it seems to pass judgment on those who would call them anything else.

(Love, 2016)Profanity defined as socially offensive language,[1] which may also be called

bad language, strong language, coarse language, foul language, bad words, vulgar language,

lewd language, choice words or expletives. The use of such language is swearing, cursing or

cussing. (Wikipedia,2013). Why do people swear? Why do people swear? Why does using a

swear word make us feel better? How do we choose which word we use? This are just some

of the underlying questions this study is trying to answer. The major reasons or causes of

profanity is very complex to be fully accepted but some researches stated that Children and

young adults mistakenly equate verbal demonstrations with a level of maturity. They honestly
believe theyre perceived older if they use words typically associated with adults,

(Grey,2016) other curse words are universally accepted profane in some culture, but others

are more borderline, especially to youth. Media can complicate the picture for tweens and

teens. Swearing is a natural part of human speech development. We learn which words are

taboo and which words are not through our normal childhood development (Grohol,2009).

Swearing is more common than we might think. But personality research shows that people

who swear more, not surprisingly, score higher on traits such as extraversion, dominance,

hostility and Type A personalities. Swearing is not just for the uneducated or people of a

lower socioeconomic class its for all in has no boundaries or limitations as long you have

the ability to use verbal expression. Some studies also stated that Profanity in general isnt

that bad underneath those deep and gruesome annoying and irritating words lies some great

or unnoticed benefits. This study concentrates on profanity or swearing and how its related

with stress. The term stress as repeatedly used in different ways, some writers ,such as W.B

cannon defined it as a stimulus, stress consist of environmental response that leads to

physical responses.(Alloy, Jacobson, Acocella ,1999)other researches said that stress is

Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress (Christian Nordqvist

2015. And when people say I have been under a lot of stress lately they usually refer to

unpleasant experience. (Kalat,1999) strees is part of our daily lives we could do noting about

it ware human and it is normal for humans to experience stress. In a perfect world, stress

would come with an adjustable dial. And there would be six day weekends. And coffee, beds

and breakfasts would make themselves. What we lack in adjustable dials and the automated

making of beautiful things, we make up for in creativity and adaptability, and a profound

capacity to protect ourselves from the assault of stress. We might not be able to stop the

stress, but we can stop it causing ruin. New research explains why giving ourselves priority

needs to become less of an option and more of a must do. Relationships, money, children,
work, and day to day life stress mean that its not always possible to adjust the volume and

intensity of stress in our lives. What we can do is manage it, but tending to our own needs

often doesnt make it anywhere near the must do list, hovering instead on the maybe one

day when I get a cheque six million dollars and dont have to work or buy my own groceries

list. If you have ever needed a reason to get serious about taking time out to de-stress,

remarkable new research has something for you. Stressors have a major influence upon

mood, our sense of well-being, behavior, and health. Acute stress responses in young, healthy

individuals may be adaptive and typically do not impose a health burden. However, if the

threat is unremitting, particularly in older or unhealthy individuals, the long-term effects of

stressors can damage health. The relationship between psychosocial stressors and disease is

affected by the nature, number, and persistence of the stressors as well as by the individuals

biological vulnerability (i.e., genetics, constitutional factors), psychosocial resources, and

learned patterns of coping. Psychosocial interventions have proven useful for treating stress-

related disorders and may influence the course of chronic diseases. (Schneiderman,Ironson,

Siegel,2005) Everyone is affected by stress at one time or another, and it can feel

overwhelming. (Karen,heysigmund.com)The research by Rockefeller University was

conducted on mice, but dont let that take anything away from the findings and what they

mean for us humans. Mice are often used in studies because they are so genetically,

biologically and physiologically close to humans. In the study, published in the journal,

Molecular Psychiatry, researchers exposed the mice to chronic stress by keeping them in a

small space for 21 days. They then looked at the mice to see which of their behaviors had

changed. They were also interested to see whether there were any changes in the brain cells

within the three different areas of the amygdala, the part of the brain that regulates emotions

such as fear and anxiety. The exposure to chronic stress caused changes in the amygdala.

These changes have been associated with anxiety and depression. In the first area of the
amygdala the researchers looked at, the stress did not appear to cause any noticeable changes.

In the second area, they noticed the branches of the cells had become longer and more

complex. This is a healthy change and points to the ability of the mice to adapt to certain

environments. In the third area, they noticed shrinkage of the branches that connected with

other parts of the brain. This change is a worrying one. When these crucial connections are

lost, the brain is less able to adapt to new experiences. Effectively, it becomes trapped in an

anxious or depressed state. Stress and modern living often tend to come as a bundle. If we

cant change the stressors that cozy up beside us day after day, we need to change the way we

deal with them. There are many life-giving ways to put back what stress takes out, including

exercise, reframing the way we think about stress, sleeping, playing, connecting with our

crew, listening to music, or meditating. The challenge then, becomes finding ways or

opportunities to become our own priority from time to time. Life opens up when we love

ourselves as much as we love the ones close to us. The study much focuses on teen stress

because this is the time of a persons which is critical this is the time where he or she may

break or make his or her life better. And research says that It is alarming that the teen stress

experience is so similar to that of adults. It is even more concerning that they seem to

underestimate the potential impact that stress has on their physical and mental health.

(Gregoire 2014) Adolescence is a time of many psychosocial and physiological changes. One

such change is how an individual responds to stressors. Specifically, adolescence is marked

by significant shifts in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity, resulting in

heightened stress-induced hormonal responses. It is presently unclear what mediates these

changes in stress reactivity and what impacts they may have on an adolescent individual.

However, stress-sensitive limbic and cortical brain areas that continue to mature during

adolescence may be particularly vulnerable to these shifts in responsiveness. Consequently,

perturbations of the maturing adolescent brain may contribute to the increase in stress-related
psychological dysfunctions, such as anxiety, depression, and drug abuse, often observed

during this stage of development. Stress happens. Its a fact of life. However, the type of

stressors we experience and how we respond to them change throughout our life.

Adolescence represents a stage in development when both of these aspects of stress are in

flux. Though most of us appreciate that the nature of stressors change during adolescence,

less appreciated are the unique ways in which adolescent individuals respond to stress. This

review will focus on the substantial shifts in stress reactivity exhibited during adolescence,

particularly in the context of hormonal responsiveness. It will also discuss the potential

impact of these hormonal changes on the developing adolescent brain. (Romeo 2013) It's no

surprise that young people are taking more psychoactive chemicals for psychological

problems, such as poor attention, anxiety, and depression. In many cases, like the student

above, they choose to self-medicate in addition to using a prescription drug. In some schools,

I've been told that as many as 25-40% of their students are on medication for psychological

and behavioral problems, and that does not include recreational use. In addition, when I meet

with teens as part of my work speaking at schools across the country, the vast majority of

them report that they have stress, anxiety, and trouble paying attention in class. Medication

can save lives for those with severe and debilitating conditions, but for everyone else, I

believe we can do better. In order to foster a sense of resilience and encourage healthier ways

to cope with life, we need to educate young people about natural highs. Over the past decade,

neuroscience research has shown that exercise, meditation, positive social support, laughing,

and many other factors can elevate mood and improve brain functioning. These activities

don't require putting a chemical into your body, but they do take time and effort to have an

impact. The research described in this review will largely highlight the work conducted on

basic animal models, as it is from these models that most of our mechanistic understanding of

age-dependent changes in stress reactivity and neurobiological function are derived. Teen
stress is the result of enduring anxiety and worry that adolescents sometimes experience

(gongala,2017). Every teenage girl and boy feel stressed at some point in time. While some

feel severe stress, others arent as affected by it. People cope with stress in different ways.

(Alloy,Jacobson,Acocella,1999). We are all different individuals and has different styles

techniques on how to approach stress. Our vulnerability to stressful events ad conditions

fluctuates and changes constantly. And we use coping mechanisms as a way to counter stress.

Coping mechanisms are the strategies people often use in the face of stress and/or trauma to

help manage difficult and/or painful emotions. Coping mechanisms can help people adjust to

stressful events while maintaining their emotional well-being. Significant life events, whether

positive or negative, can cause psychological stress. Difficult events, such as divorce, the

death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, often cause distressing emotions in most

individuals. But even events that are considered positive by manygetting married, having a

child, and buying a homecan lead to a significant amounts of stress. To adjust to this stress,

people may utilize some combination of behavior, thought, and emotion, depending on the

situation. Others may get confused with defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms.

Although they share some similarities, they are, in fact, different. Defense mechanisms

mostly occur at an unconscious level, and people are generally unaware they are using them.

Ones use of coping mechanisms, on the other hand, is typically conscious and purposeful.

Coping mechanisms are used to manage an external situation that is creating problems for an

individual. Defense mechanisms can change a persons internal psychological state. Most of

us develop certain habits that act as coping mechanisms and outlets for stress. To beat stress,

it is essential to overcome coping mechanisms in order to meet stress directly. (Paul Huljich

,2012) You can then become aware of the underlying cause of your stress, whether its your

response to some challenge, or perhaps choices you are making that are out of alignment with

your innermost feelings. This enables you to address issues directly, rather than allowing
them to fester by avoiding the root cause through some form of distraction, i.e., a coping

mechanism. A coping mechanism could accurately be looked upon as a type of addiction.

Like most habits, coping mechanisms have an addictive quality to them; we feel some degree

of compulsion toward them, and we experience some level of difficulty in resisting them. We

tend to use a coping mechanism as a distraction, a crutch that we lean on as a way of avoiding

stress. These activities, then, are no longer true choices that we make but, rather, unconscious

habits that often prevent us from dealing directly with stress and are therefore harmful to our

well-being. Over the years, psychologists and researchers have identified about 400 to 600

coping strategies, and yet there are so many other potential coping strategies that are still

under research. Because of this, the classifications of coping strategies vary from textbook to

textbook. One of the recognized groupings of coping strategies is that which was written in

the psychology textbook by Weiten, which includes the appraisal-focused or adaptive

cognitive, the problem-focused or adaptive behavioral, and the emotion-focused. The

appraisal-focused strategies are those coping mechanisms which involve the change of

mindset or a revision of thoughts. Denial is the most common coping mechanism under this

category. The problem-focused strategies are those that modify the behavior of the person. A

good example of this is learning how to cook a family dinner upon knowing that your

spouse's family would come over your house this weekend. The emotion-focused strategies

include the alteration of one's emotions to tolerate or eliminate the stress. Examples include

distraction, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Many psychologists also contributed in the

study of coping mechanisms by grouping mechanisms or strategies according to their

manifestations and purposes. In general, here are the general classifications of coping

mechanisms: The ramifications of rather common place notion are extraordinary.

(Mclean,1992)Believe it or not, swearing like a sailor really letting the curse words fly

can be a fantastic way to unwind, to relieve a mountain of stress off of your shoulders, and to
generally just get everything off of your chest and out into the ether. (DJ,2016) researchers

studying profanity have come to the conclusion that swearing can help you cope with

stressful situations, and even increase your tolerance for pain. A recent study indicates that

swearing can provide stress relief. Psychologists at England's Keele University say cursing is

a harmless, creative emotional release that can make you feel stronger, (Grossman 2014)

When you swear, it can act as a coping mechanism, whether you are at work or at home.

However, you still need to be careful about the profanity you use (Marquit,2013). And also

swearing can be a Pain relief. Swearing activates the so-called 'fight or flight' response,

leading to a surge of adrenaline and a corresponding analgesic effect (burton,2012). And

Reducing Not only can swearing help reduce your emotional stress, but it can also alleviate

some of your pain. Studies indicate that you can actually reduce your pain when you swear

after hurting yourself Miranda (Marquit,2013) .Thus Swearing can give us a greater sense of

power and control over a bad situation. By swearing we show, if only to ourselves, that we

are not passive victims but empowered to react and fight back. This can boost our confidence

and self-esteem, and also provide the impetus for further corrective action to be taken. As

Mark Twain put it, 'When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear.(burton,2012)

Swearing is a harmless emotional release which could make you feel stronger, researchers

have claimed - though only in moderation. (Dan Bloom) ) Don't dismiss 'bad' language as

lazy or offensive; it can be a tool for persuasion, a means of coping with pain and an aid in

spotting dementia. (Stephens, 2015) this study maybe a complex and a bit hard for research to

pursue. But if one considers that psychology is the study of the minds of people, and if one

agrees that people are emotional beings .then understanding swearing, as the language of

emotion, can improve our understanding of psychology as a whole. Life would be simple

indeed if all of our needs were automatically satisfied. In reality however, many obstacles.

Both personal and environmental prevent this ideal situation. Such obstacle place adjustive
demands on us and can lead to stress, there are categories of stressors, adjustive demands or

stressors, stem from sources that fall into three basic categories. First is the Frustration when

a persons striving are thwarted either by obstacle that block progress toward a desired goal,

or by the absence of an appropriate goal, frustration occur. Next is the Conflicts in many

instances stress result from the simultaneous occurrence of two or more incompatible needs

or motives. The last one is Pressure stress may stem not only from frustration and conflicts

but also from the pressure to achieve specific goals or to behave In particular ways. These

three categories is some of the reason why a person is stress because every day we can

encounter these three categories. (Robert C. Carson, James N. Butcher, Susan Mineka 2000-

2001). In exploring the links between psychological stress and physical illness, the major

stressors have on the human are the loss of job, a move to distant city these and other life

events cause tremendous stress and put a person at increased risk of becoming illness, stress

produces direct physiological effects, and those effects have other effects. The bodys

function digestion, respiration, circulation are not single component operations they are

systems of many parts, each of which sends the others feedback, stress may also encourage

its victims to report illness. People whose lives are going smoothly tend to overlook health

problems; people who are under pressure are more likely to call the doctor. Particularly hard

individuals may be relatively immune to stressors that would impair most peoples

functioning. In general however, increased levels of stress threaten a persons well-being and

produce automatic, persistent attempts to relieve the tension. Stress forces a person, in short,

to do something. What is done depends on many influence. Sometimes inner factors such as a

persons frame or reference, motives competencies, or stress or tolerance play the dominant

role in determining his or her coping strategies at other times, environmental conditions such

as social demands and expectations are primary importance. Any stress reaction of course,

reflects the interplay of inner strategies and outer conditions some more influential that
others, but all working together to make the person react in a certain way. Ironically, people

create stress themselves rather than coping. Your language might offend some people, but

the tone and attitude behind your words do far greater damage to all of your relationships.(

Abnormal Psychology Current Perspectives, Lauren B. Alloy, Niel S. Jacobson, Joan

Acocella 1999-2000) Even if your friends and associates commonly use cuss words, you will

be perceived as more mature, intelligent, articulate, polite, considerate and pleasant if you

control your language and the emotions that typically prompt expletives. You can choose to

have character and class, or be considered rude, crude and crass. Cursing is sometimes

humorous, but sometimes abusive. It can help vent anger, or provoke it. It can relieve stress,

or cause it. It can be clever and flirtatious, or sexist and intimidating. Consequently, be aware

of when and where you swear. Control it, tame it,time it. Or, to be on the safe side, stop using

it altogether. In this way you can avoid miss understanding with other person so speak in a

good manner so that you can understand each other. Its long been associated with anger and

coarseness but profanity can have another, more positive connotation.( Nathaniel C. Johnson

2000-2001)Psychologists have learned that people who frequently curse are being more

honest. Profanity is obscene language which, in some social settings is considered

inappropriate and unacceptable. It often refers to language that contains sexual references,

defilement or other desecration terms. Its usually related to the expression of emotions such

as anger, frustration or surprise as dishonesty and profanity are both considered deviant they

are often viewed as evidence of low moral standards. On the other hand, profanity can be

positively associated with honesty. It is often used to express unfiltered feelings and sincerity,

Swearing is often inappropriate but it can also be evidence that someone is telling you their

honest opinion. Just as they aren't filtering their language to be more palatable, they're also

not filtering their views.( David Stillwell 1997). Well, it turns out there's a good way to deal

with that frustration: swearing cursing is, a harmless emotional release, and can make you
feel stronger and more resilient. "It's a coping mechanism it can build up sort of an arousal

level with whatever that emotion you're feeling and then, when you release that by swearing,

it vents that emotion, whatever that emotion is, Why We Curse. From a wider view, it's much

better than resorting to some type of physical violence. As long as you're not harassing

people, if you're just blowing off steam, swearing should be fine.( A Martnez 2003). Bad

language could be good for you, swearing may serve an important function in relieving pain.

Although cursing is notoriously decried in the public debate, researchers are now beginning

to question the idea that the phenomenon is all bad. "Swearing is such a common response to

pain that there has to be an underlying reason why we do it. But cursing is more than just

aggression, It allows us to vent or express anger, joy, surprise, happiness," he remarks. It's

like the horn on your car, you can do a lot of things with that, it's built into you. The more we

swear, the less emotionally potent the words become. And without emotion, all that is left of

a swearword is the word itself, unlikely to soothe anyone's pain.( Frederick Joelving 1998).

Letting the curse words fly can be a fantastic way to unwind, to relieve a mountain of stress

off of your shoulders, and to generally just get everything off of your chest and out into the

ether. And while the overwhelming majority of people have probably dropped a handful of F-

bombs when they were facing a little bit of pressure most of them didnt really understand

just how beneficial some curse words can be a when you have had it up to here and just need

something anything to help you unwind. You may have heard that it isnt quite polite society

friendly to drop F-bombs or other curse words at any point in time, and that may be true in

most circumstances. But when you are at youre boiling point and cannot find any other way

to let off some steam in a hurry, dropping you below that pressure threshold where you feel

like you are going to pop, you may want to uncork a couple of saltier words to get back to

your equilibrium.( David Jose 2001-2002). Your body responds in similar ways. Regardless

of the stressors, your body automatically prepares to handle the emergency. The bodys
metabolism increases in preparation for expanding energy on physical action. Heart rate,

blood pressure and breathing rate increase and the muscle tense at the same time, certain

activities such as digestion, are curtailed. However, that exposure to intermittent stressors can

have later benefits in the form of psychological toughness in essence, intermittent stress leads

to stress tolerance later on, for example the children in his or her first day of school they fell

fear of all the people around them, because they dont know who are those people around

them but in when weeks or month they can fell a feeling of relaxation with the same people

they met every day in school.( . Hilgards Introduction To Psycgology, Rita L. Atkinson,

Richard C. Atkinson, Edward E. Smith, Daryl J. Bem, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema 2000-2001).

If you have a teenager, then chances are you have probably noticed that the routine day-to-

day jargon of teens has changed over the years to include quite a bit of foul language.

Facebook posts, tweets, and text messages among the teen population tend to also include

quite a bit of slang terms, many of which are acronyms for some of the most vulgar of curse

words known to humankind. Is this simply an evolutionary trend showing an increasing lack

of respect or have teens always been prone to using foul language especially in the absence

of adults? More than likely, the problem with swearing and teens is a combination of things

in progress. For one thing, the world has seemed to become more immune to bad language,

and even fairly benign words such as ass, bitch, or damn are no l The truth is, that teens have

always cussed privately in their rooms and among the company of their peers. Even back in

the day, cussing was a gateway to a phase of adult life that teenagers tinker with in order to

feel as if they are in control longer being edited from prime time television or from the peers

with him every day. ( Steff Daniel 2004-2005).This study hopes to help on how people see

profanity in a more complex manner and not just in their own perspective and may help

individuals understand profanity as a coping mechanism. Swearing is an unsavory habit that

many of us get into and then have a hard time getting out of. The problem with swearing is
that it's something that becomes completely ingrained into our psyche almost like our

reactions and in some cases victims of brain damage who have completely lost all other

language find themselves still able to swear when shocked or aggravated. Here we will look

at why you should avoid swearing, and some tricks you can use to go about training yourself

to ease off. The problem is a profound one that has many impacts on our life some that we

are no doubt aware of and others that we might not have considered or noticed. First and

foremost swearing is an issue in particular company. For instance if you are at a children's

party and you start swearing profusely, or if you are in a business meeting or interview and

you let loose with the profanities then in either case this is going to be deemed highly

inappropriate and people are likely to judge you harshly as a result. Swear words are of

course just words, but their connotations have come to be more than that, and they are

generally thought of as aggressive or unpleasant. For some people swearing can be highly

offensive and hurtful and while you might not think twice when someone swears, they may

well be genuinely upset to hear you do so so try to be considerate and avoid upsetting people

unnecessarily by toning down your swearing. The problem though of course is that if you

have started to swear as a habit/impulse, then this will be very difficult to tone down under

the right circumstances and you will find that you end up swearing and cursing involuntarily

at times when you know you shouldn't. And the other problem with swearing is that it means

people don't take you seriously. If you are in a business meeting, or dealing with someone on

the phone, then the minute you start swearing you will have lost the other person's respect

and they will view you as less professional. Similarly if you are talking to someone you don't

know then they will estimate you as having a lower IQ if you swear more it's colloquial

language and many people swear as a result of not having a full vocabulary so you don't want

people to think that you fall into that category. When you drop a frying pan on your foot, or

when you get startled, you will have it as part of a reflex to curse loudly. This is simply a
reaction that has been hammered home through repeated use and those pathways are simply

there and heavily ingrained there's no logical thought or contemplation going on there. What

you need to do then is to simply change what it is that you're shouting when that happens.

This way you can still have your natural reaction of cursing, but you can make it a lot more

tolerable for people who don't like the sound of swearing.( Stanley C Loewen 2001-2003).

profanity is obscene language which, in some social settings is considered inappropriate and

unacceptable. It often refers to language that contains sexual references, blasphemy or other

vulgar terms. It's usually related to the expression of emotions such as anger, frustration or

surprise. But profanity can also be used to entertain and win over audiences. As dishonesty

and profanity are both considered deviant they are often viewed as evidence of low moral

standards. On the other hand, profanity can be positively associated with honesty. It is often

used to express unfiltered feelings and sincerity. The language used in the school hallways

and in class was just awful. I remember entering junior high school and feeling like the

increased use of profanity was a slap in the face. It seemed to be everywhere. I felt like I

couldnt escape it! You probably feel the same way. So how do you avoid being affected by

all the bad language? How do you keep your thoughts pure when your ears are being filled

with so much filth? Try considering some of these helpful steps. First of all, choose not to

participate in the vulgarity. Pray for help and decide now to keep your mouth clean. Dont

talk about or participate in media with subjects that are vulgar or inappropriate. If you do this,

the Spirit can be with you at all times. Be especially careful to be reverent and respectful

when using the names of God, Swearing and crude language offend the Spirit. If youve

already developed a habit of swearing, choose today to stop. Use more wholesome words to

express yourself, or if you feel you are about to say something you shouldnt, just dont say

anything at all and Its important to choose friends who do not speak crudely, because the

people you spend time with will have an influence on you surround yourself with people who
share or respect your standards, including standards on language. Steven B. from Australia

says, After personal prayer, I felt inspired to search for friends who have high standards and

morals. If you pray and look hard for good friends, the Lord will provide a way to help you

stay clean. If friends swear, find a good-natured way to let them know their language offends

you. A good friend will respect you and keep from using words that make you

uncomfortable. But you have to speak up and let them know that the behavior bothers you.(

Riley M. Lorimer-Reznik 2005-2006). Military folks and college students have a well-earned

reputation for salty language, but even the most mild-mouthed saint might have trouble

resisting a "Jesus Christ!" or "Shit!" on occasion. you'd never know it from what your mom

told you, but there are many positive, beneficial aspects of swearing, including harmless

venting and social bonding Bad language does a lot of good. wearing was actually a type of

pain-related catastrophising-in other words, a "maladaptive response to pain" that made

things like horrible agony worse, not better. But Stephens and company found that

"...repeating a swear word, compared with repeating a neutral word, allowed participants to

hold their hands in ice cold water for 40 seconds longer and they had a larger heart rate

increase. Because we saw an increase in heart rate we think that people had an emotional

reaction to swearing bringing about the fight or flight response, which is known to increase

pain tolerance make people more able to withstand pain In a nutshell, swearing has an

analgesic, pain-lessening effect that could give Ibuprofen a run for its money, probably by

working us into an aggressive, heightened state it fits with our theory that people can self-

regulate their own emotional state by swearing-think of a sports team coach using four letter

words in a team talk about getting at the opposing team. On the other hand, if it is the shock

value of the words that produces the effect then one would expect overuse of swear words to

lessen the effect. Investigating this would make a great follow-up study. Yes, it would. Sigh.

You know, it kind of hurts to leave such a fascinating topic after just one column. At least I
know how to relieve the pain. The common meaning of profanity stems actually from

religious connotation. The definition of profanity is offensive words, although the word

profanity itself comes from the Latin word profanus which means outside the temple.

The use of profanity occurred to describe something that either is holy or is not holy.

Common profanity words though are more Germanic in origin though, as shit and fuck are

both Germanic and have no connection to Latin. When it comes to a complete profanity list,

it really depends on the individual. What some people might consider profane is not going to

be all that bad to someone else. That is why it is necessary to understand all of the different

words and to determine what really is bad. Each word is going to have a different origin, so it

is not possible to define every single word, so it is easier to list out the more common

profanity words and then give brief definitions of the different words that are more common.

The most common profanity words include asshole, shit, bitch, fuck and, to a lesser extend,

damn. Other words that some people might consider profanity include cunt, cum, dick, clit,

pussy and jizz. Now, there are most likely others, both this is a general list and, if someone is

going to set up a profanity filter for their Internet connection, this is a good list of words to

include. For someone that wants no profanity on their computer, it is always possible to come

up with additional words as the time goes, but for the most part, these are going to be the

most common words. In order to understand profanation, it is necessary to understand where

these different words come from. For many words, especially the more common swear

words, each comes from a different origin that has no actual negative meaning. For an

example, the word shit is a variation of a British and Irish English word. It is a slang term that

basically means nonsense or something of little value. However, it has since become a

profane word that refers to fecal matter. It is used when describing both nowadays though,

although in both terms it is considered vulgar. In a world that, sadly, revolves around bullying

and hateful words directed towards everyone online and offline, the dictionary of internet
slang is filled with profane words ranging from the average everyday slang to the more

obscene. Children and teens are flooded with profane words from cyber bullies, stalkers,

online predators and trolls. The reasons for using profane words range from simply

entertaining themselves to more vengeful tirades designed to break someones spirit with

hurtful words and rumors. Several teens and children cannot handle those online mob attacks

using profane words and resort to either retaliation with even more obscene words or simply

logging off these social networks, some couldnt handle this to the extent of committing

suicide. In terms of profanity, it really comes down to what someone considers profane and

what someone does not. One person might consider the word a profane word, while others

might not see it that way. Others are going to use the word f almost in a sentence by sentence

utilization, without a second though, although this is one of the major words that even

entertainers are not able to use in public or easily accessed material (using the word itself is

enough to cause a movie to receive a harsher rating). With all of these different potential

words, it is very important to understand what the difference is and how it is possible to

protect a computer from all of these different words. There are different options when it

comes to a profanity filter. For one, most Internet browser have the option to block out

material that contains certain words or subject matter. For a parent who wants to protect the

child from exposure to this sort of material, this is extremely helpful. Going into the settings

menu of the Internet browser allows someone to type in the words they do not want to appear

in any sort of context online. This can block out websites that contain the word or simply

prevent Internet searches from providing results of the word. Regardless of what it is, this is

extremely helpful for a parent of a child, especially a young child who has not yet been

exposed to this kind of material. ( Carl Morgan 2006-2007). Your penchant for four-letter

words might reflect more favorably upon you than you think: The more expletives you use,

the bigger your overall vocabulary. That puts one big myth that people swear because they
dont have better alternatives to pasture, he says. In fact, holding a full arsenal of swear

words might actually serve as a marker of intelligence, since knowing, and correctly using, a

wide range of terms demonstrates your intellectual capabilities. And your swearing might not

just signal smarts. Read along to find out what other benefits your filthy mouth may give you.

From the moment your mom threatened to wash your mouth out with soap, you know certain

dirty words pack greater power Thats because swearing seems to provoke an emotional

response similar to fight-or-flight, releasing a surge of adrenaline that dampens pain signals

to the brain For instance, in certain workplace cultures, obscenities can build bonds between

employees, Peppering in profanity can also help you make a stronger, more effective point.

Ive heard several theories for why swearing around kids is wrong. (I should be clear that Im

not talking about swearing at kids; verbal abuse is known to be psychologically damaging.)

And these explanations dont all revolve around etiquette or social norms. Some, like the

American Academy of Pediatrics, argue that exposure to profanity is actually dangerous

because it encourages aggression or will numb a childs normal emotional reactions. As far as

I know, scientists have never conducted a controlled experiment aimed at uncovering the

consequences of swearing in front of children; you cant ethically justify exposing 5-year-

olds to heavy cussing if theres even the slightest risk of harm. But college students are

another story. And we can extrapolate to children from experimental research conducted with

adults. Slurs may have similar or greater effects in children, who are less developed socially

and cognitively. Indeed, correlational studies suggest as much. For instance, a study that

followed middle school students found that those who reported more exposure to

homophobic slurs tended to report feeling less connected to their school lives. They also

exhibited symptoms of anxiety and depression. But theres no similar proof that exposure to

ordinary profanity four-letter words causes any sort of direct harm: no increased aggression,

stunted vocabulary, numbed emotions or anything else. Of course, parents arent holding
their tongues solely because they think hearing a bad word will turn their kid into a criminal.

They also worry that the kid will turn around and use it. And yet the largest observational

study again we dont have controlled experiments found that childhood swearing is largely

innocuous. Scientists documented children ages 1 to 12 naturally producing thousands of

taboo utterances, and only rarely witnessed negative repercussions. On no occasion did

swearing lead to physical violence. Instead, taboo words were used mostly for positive

reasons, for instance humor, and mostly were not produced out of anger. Still, I understand

that, science aside, many adults simply dont like the thought of children using profanity;

they think its inappropriate, or unseemly or a sign of poor family values. After all, thats

how these adults were indoctrinated as children. A child who uses strong language may

therefore risk punishment, among other negative reactions, at the hands of adults who dont

tolerate it. So heres the dilemma. Although theres no evidence that either hearing or using

run-of-the-mill profane words causes harm to children, a child who wanders out into the

world with a mouth like a sailor could still cause harm to his reputation and that of his

parents. ( Benjamin Bergen 2003-2004). Feelings of stress and anxiety are a part of life.

Some levels of stress can actually be good for us, as the right kind of stress encourages us

toward change and growth. However, when stress and anxiety exist for an extended period of

time, they can become a burden or even a health risk. This guidebook will help you recognize

and understand feelings of stress and anxiety and learn how to manage them so that they

dont become overwhelming. Stress is the bodys reaction to a challenge. Though stress is

often perceived as bad, it can actually be good in some respects. The right kind of stress can

sharpen the mind and reflexes. It might be able to help the body perform better, or help you

escape a dangerous situation. Stress produces a physiological reaction in your body.

Hormones are released, which results in physical manifestations of stress. These can include

slowed digestion, shaking, tunnel vision, accelerated breathing and heart rate, dilation of
pupils and flushed skin. This process is often referred to as the fight or flight response. That

is just what it sounds like: Our bodies are poised to either run away from the stressor or stick

around and fight against it. Acute stress is the most common form and is the result of recent

or anticipated stressors. Acute stress can be both positive and negative. For example, the

excitement before a fun event is a type of positive acute stress. Getting into a car accident is

negative acute stress. As long as the acute stress doesnt last for extended periods or occur

too frequently, there is nothing wrong with suffering from acute stress. It happens to all of us,

and it passes with time. Episodic acute stress is acute stress that occurs frequently. This is the

kind of stress that continuously pops up, sometimes in a pattern. It is accompanied by worry

and angst about things that are happening to you or around you. You might be especially

prone to this is you have a type A personality, as you can have a sense of urgency and a

need to get things done that might actually become overwhelming. Episodic acute stress is a

recurring type of stress, happening over and over. Chronic acute stress can be thought of as

never-ending stress that relentlessly wears away at you. If you dont see an end in sight, if

you are facing something that has no way out, then you are likely to begin suffering from

chronic stress. This type of stress eventually begins to affect your health, and can lead to

heart problems, strokes, or even cancer, among other issues. Chronic stress definitely requires

reaching out for help. For many students, college is the first time they have lived away from

home or been away from their family for any significant period of time. Besides that, its a

very unfamiliar environment. Everything is different the food, the people and the living

accommodations. Even though most students eventually get used to these new things without

a problem, the first few weeks of college can create a stressful environment. This is true even

if you are truly excited about the changes. Remember that even positive changes can induce

stress. There is also a change in the support environment. When there is a big test, bad day or

confusing situation, family members and old friends are not readily available for support and
if they are, its through a telephone or computer rather than in person. This can be tough to

adjust to, especially during those first few months. This may be the most common long-term

cause of stress for college students. After all, thats why students go to college to learn. When

you dont get the results you think you should get, or you feel pressured to get certain

academic results, this can cause a lot of stress. For some students, college is the first time

they are academically challenged. If high school was a breeze for you, college may be the

first time you get a low grade on a test. Consequently, test anxiety may be experienced for the

first time or with increased intensity. Test anxiety is anxiety that usually comes before or

during the taking of tests. The symptoms can be physical and mental and usually inhibit your

ability to perform as well as you otherwise could. (Melissa Cohen, 2005-2006). Sometimes

when you bang your elbow, are having a bad day, or maybe even had a teensy bit too much to

drink you unleash a blue streak that could cause the heavens to weep. But is it as good for

your health as say, a long, mind-clearing run, meditating with the Dalai Lama or brain-

calming exercises? Its true, according to some very interesting research that shows swearing

may actually be good for you. In a study, participants who swore while submerging their

hand in ice water were able to endure the pain longer than those who didnt or simply uttered

non-curse words. Interesting indeed. And while it doesnt give you license to start talking like

a salty sailor, the research does reveal a rather crucial element of the way our brains perceive

pain, and at the very least, helps make us feel less guilty when the occasional profanity slips

out. They found that expletives actually tie into a different part of the brain than other

language the primal, emotional side that also controls our survivalist and defensive reflexes.

And thats good news. We have a wonderful and, lets face it, kind of fun way to cope that, it

turns out, is as natural as our fight-or-flight instincts. But what about all that other swearing?

You know, the kind thats really rude, thrown around in schools, comedy clubs, or from the

mouths of angry drivers during rush hour? Theres no denying that harmless venting the
operative word being harmless, social bonding, and a few good laughs are good for us, too.

But angry swearing can be hurtful, and overusing it can actually reverse its benefits. The

study also found that the more you swear, the less its tied to your emotional responses.

Without emotion, the word loses its power. (Thomas Niel 2005-2006).

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH DESIGN

This study uses the correlational design for the purpose of investigating the function

of profanity as a coping mechanism and its relationship with stress in students of Western

Mindanao State University College of Liberal Arts. This design will be appropriate in

weighing up the relationship of two variables given its elasticity and capacity for the study.

SAMPLING

This study will be using purposive sampling, a purposive sampling is a non- probability

sample that is selected based on characteristic of a population and of the objective of the

study, also known as selective sampling

INCLUSION

1.The respondent must be 18-21 years old and must be enrolled in the course of BS

PSYCHOLOGY and must be 3rd year student

EXCLUSION

1. The respondent must not be below the age of 18 or over the age 21.

MEASUREMENT STRATEGIES
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

1. Identify the characteristic of interest

Profanity in Dealing with Stress Among 3rd year CLA Students

2. Describe the measuring instrument

Two way annova

3. Describe how observations will be make

Who: 3rd year PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT

How many: 25 male 25 male

4. Describe what will be observe

The researchers must observe how often does 3rd year psychology students used

profane language while they are in stress

INSTRUMENTS

PERSONAL INFORMATION

NAME:

AGE:

SEX:

ADRESS:

RELIGION:

CIVIL STATUS:

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
GUIDE QUESTION:

TIME FRAME

During the given months for data gathering which is from June to October 2017

PROCEDURE

What and when will then study concluded

During the given time and date for the date gathering

What exactly will be done:

Step 1: Locating and Defining Issues or Problems, This step focuses on uncovering the nature

and boundaries of a situation or question related to the research that will be done

Step 2: Collecting the data gathered from the group

Step 3: Interpreting Research Data, examining the data and coming up with a conclusion that

solves the problem.

Step 4: Report Research Findings

DATA ANALYSIS
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