“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
~ Clark Gable, Gone with the Wind~
When that phrase was uttered in the iconic film in 1939, the producers of Gone with the Wind were fined $5,000 for profane behavior. My how things have changed. Our entertainment venues are peppered with profane language, which is simply tolerated and considered just part of entertainment. 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.
Insights into Acceptable Social Behavior
Whether in a social setting or in the workplace, profanity has typically been unacceptable behavior and defined as evidence of low moral standards. In a recent paper co-authored by Dr. David Stillwell, a study determined a link between the use of profanity and honesty.
“The relationship between profanity and dishonesty is a tricky one. 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.”
~ Dr. David Stillwell, University of Cambridge~
It was shown that people who use profanity are using it to express unfiltered feelings and sincerity. It is a social behavior that is deemed inappropriate, but it is more often perceived as them communicating their honest opinions on a topic, without applying social filters. Researchers cited the example of President Donald Trump. During his election cycle, he frequently used profanity in his speeches. President Trump was perceived to be offensive by some, but most felt he was being more genuine and honest with his constituents.
Let’s Just Keep it Real
Okay, don’t go into your bosses office after reading this, letting go a string of profanity, then waiving this study in his face. This is not appropriate social behavior and we cannot be responsible for the outcome of that encounter. There are still rules in the workplace and in social settings that make profanity unacceptable. However, next time someone lets it slip in a heated situation, understand that there may be more truth involved in their communication than you may realize. Don’t accept the bad behavior, but see the potential of what may be residing behind those foul words.
