SCSU Study Finds Those Who Swear Should Beware

NEW HAVEN — The use of profanity has filtered into our lives like never before through television, music, the movies, and even dinner table discussion in some households. It has become so commonplace today that many believe society has been desensitized to its use, and even has come to expect it. This is especially the case with adolescents and young adults, many of whom equate foul language with sophistication. But if you think that profanity, even in its milder forms, does not adversely influence perceptions of those who use it, you might want to watch your p’s and q’s.

A recent study conducted by an assistant psychology professor and two students at Southern Connecticut State University shows a correlation between the use of profanity and the way others view an individual’s personality and employability. Patricia Kahlbaugh, a Branford resident who has been a faculty member at SCSU for five years, and senior Alicia Wickson of Newtown, presented their findings at a recent meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association in Washington, D.C.

“Our research suggests that the presence of even mild profanity influences impressions we make of other people in terms of their personality characteristics and their employability,” Ms Kahlbaugh said.

The research tested about 90 undergraduates at SCSU, who were each given a writing sample from one of three genres – poetry, fiction, or science – that included one of three levels of profanity (none, mild, or harsh). After the students read the samples, they were asked to rate the author’s level of responsibility, dependability, intelligence, conscientiousness, openness to experience, trustworthiness, and honesty. They were also asked to rate them on three employability issues: how likely respondents would be to hire this person, work for this person, or work with this person.

 Across the board, the authors who used mild or harsh profanity were viewed more negatively and received significantly lower employability ratings.

“I’m not quite sure why, but it may have to do with people perceiving a hostile undertone in those who use profanity,” Ms Kahlbaugh said. “Even more surprising, however, is that the perceptions of those who used mild profanity were not statistically different from those who used harsher forms.”

Miss Wickson, a graduate of Newtown High School, agreed. “I thought that because so many people swear frequently in this day in age, the reaction would be, ‘What’s the big deal?’ But apparently the use of profanity continues to play a large role in shaping people’s perceptions about others.”