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Effects of Inner Monologue Swearing on Physical Performance
Nicholas B Washmuth1, Lia Jiannine2, Christopher G Ballmann3,4
1University of Alabama in Huntsville, Department of Psychology, Huntsville, AL, USA.
International Journal of Exercise Science
|April 20, 2026
Summary
Inner monologue swearing, or thinking swear words, can boost muscular endurance during exercises like wall sits and planks. This mental strategy may enhance physical performance in public settings where vocal swearing is not possible.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Verbalizing swear words aloud is known to enhance physical performance.
- Vocal swearing is not always feasible in public settings.
- Inner monologue swearing offers a potential alternative for performance enhancement in restricted environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if inner monologue swearing enhances physical performance.
- To determine the task specificity of inner monologue swearing's effects.
Main Methods:
- Randomized crossover design with 42 physically active participants.
- Participants completed exercise tests under inner monologue swearing and neutral word conditions.
- Tests included grip strength, wall sit time to exhaustion, and plank time to exhaustion.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in grip strength between conditions (p = 0.998).
- Inner monologue swearing significantly improved wall sit time (p = 0.008) and plank time (p = 0.008).
Conclusions:
- Inner monologue swearing may enhance muscular endurance, particularly in time-to-exhaustion tasks.
- The performance-enhancing effect appears to be task-specific, not affecting grip strength.
- Inner monologue swearing is a viable strategy for improving physical performance in public settings.
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