PROFANITY, SELF-CONTROL, AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

A recent Supreme Court case conferred the FCC with the ability to increase the fines for
profane language on television as well as to expand their definition of what is deemed offensive.
These actions appear to be based on the belief that profane language negatively impacts human
behavior. Yet little research exists to indicate that profane language has any effect on human
behavior, much less negative effects. The current studies sought to examine the effect of
exposure to profane language on human behavior. Specifically, we tested whether profane
language would impact factors related to self-control. Two studies provide evidence that
profanity can either decrease or increase self-control based on factors of the situation in which
the swearing occurred and personal factors of those who are being exposed. A third study
provides evidence that exposure to profanity decreases the perception of the strictness of social
norms by those who are exposed to it.