Cursing, which helps us convey our most powerful emotions, relieves stress.
Some situations just cry out for a profane word or two.
And while some may argue that doesn't make it right, swearing is a form of stress release practiced the world over. The social practice of cursing is common to all cultures, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups. The reasons for this have seldom been studied in scientific circles. Van Lancker and UCLA neurologist J.L. Cummings completed research that suggests that swearing is processed at a more instinctual level of the brain than cognizant communication. Their research, which examined numerous studies on how expletives are used both by healthy adults and in those with brain damage, indicates that what we consider to be extreme forms of expression are governed by a different part of the brain our more rational faculties.