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Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

neurosciencenews.com

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Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#41

Post by kristopolous »

teach wrote: post #7
chiph wrote: post #6

Google cache: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:MxASfYV...

A lot of reading for precious little information: Source: University of Cambridge. Writing in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science a team of researchers from the Netherlands, the UK, the USA and Hong Kong "The international team of researchers set out to gauge people’s views about this sort of language in a series of questionnaires which included interactions with social media users. "In the first…

If you were tasked with it, how would you construct further research in the future to further test these results?

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#43

Post by Retra »

zzalpha wrote: post #40
jghn wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Would you swear in an interview? No." Yes. And if someone held it against me it's unlikely to be a place I want to work.

Well, I'd hold it against you (well, unless I set the precedent by swearing first...) :) In many professional settings (e.g. when in front of a client), where you may not be familiar with the social norms of those you're interacting with, the ability to effectively code switch is critical. I see that as part of basic professional judgement. So, absolutely, with your co-workers, swear away if that's part of the cultur…

It really depends on the job. If your priorities are of a political nature, then that's a reasonable expectation.

If you're hiring me for an engineering position and you can't handle some harmless swearing, then you're really not sharing in my engineering priorities. Here it's just pointless culture policing and power playing.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#44

Post by Retra »

edblarney wrote: post #19
thesz wrote: post #12

The people who cannot spend energy to control themselves and therefore curse are less prone to using self-control-dependent strategy of lies and deception. Wowsers.

I don't think this should be downvoted, I think it is essentially correct. Only people who are 'learned communicators' have the amount of self control to both 'not swear' but also use their communication skills to curry favour, which may involve manipulating the truth subtly or egregiously. About 50% of the time, the 'raw truth' is a little rugged, and smart communicators learn how to 'change the tone' of information…

It has nothing to do with self control. It is a matter of culture. Right now, I am not swearing at all. But in other contexts, I swear easily. Because swearing has different value in different contexts. Here, it doesn't add much.

And when I do swear, it's not for lack of self control. It's because I'm making a stand about what my priorities are. Which are usually that the subject of the discussion is far more important than the manner in which it is discussed or the personal, fleeting discomfort of any bystanders or participants.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#45

Post by zzalpha »

Retra wrote: post #43
zzalpha wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, I'd hold it against you (well, unless I set the precedent by swearing first...) :) In many professional settings (e.g. when in front of a client), where you may not be familiar with the social norms of those you're interacting with, the ability to effectively code switch is critical. I see that as part of basic professional judgement. So, absolutely, with your co-workers, swear away if that's part of the cultur…

It really depends on the job. If your priorities are of a political nature, then that's a reasonable expectation. If you're hiring me for an engineering position and you can't handle some harmless swearing, then you're really not sharing in my engineering priorities. Here it's just pointless culture policing and power playing.

Accepting that folks you don't know might not share your values, and adjusting accordingly isn't "political".

It's basic respect and professionalism.

Now, from your perspective, you might think you're just testing the employer. That is, if they'll put up with your swearing in the interview, then it might be a better value fit. And that may be true.

I'm simply suggesting that you may end up disqualified for positions where you might otherwise fit, not because swearing itself is deemed inappropriate, but because, in that specific setting, to the interviewer it suggests poor judgement.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#46

Post by dathanb82 »

smcnally wrote: post #31
donquichotte wrote: post #4

"The research found that those who used more profanity were also more likely to use language patterns that have been shown in previous research to be related to honesty, such as using pronouns like “I” and “me”." I wish they gave a source for the relationship between using these pronouns and telling the truth. Also, just looking at facebook users introduces a bloody selection bias.

w/r/t selection bias, "As of the third quarter of 2016, Facebook had 1.79 billion monthly active users." https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly... Their sample pool covers better than 25% of the human population.

While that's a very large pool, it's almost certainly not random.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#47

Post by milesf »

taeric wrote: post #34
zer0t3ch wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a load of shit Your comment is anecdotal proof that profanity doesn't have jack shit to do with anger.

I realized later that I left out a smiley, or better evidence of humor. Hopefully it was taken as intended by everyone!

It's all good :) I'm simply stating my opinion, and I'll hold to it. Profanity and anger are not two "qualities" I look for in people, either as co-workers or friends. I'm not saying I will not work with or be friends with people who swear, but it is simply a red flag for me.

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#49

Post by pocketsquare2 »

dathanb82 wrote: post #46
smcnally wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

w/r/t selection bias, "As of the third quarter of 2016, Facebook had 1.79 billion monthly active users." https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly... Their sample pool covers better than 25% of the human population.

While that's a very large pool, it's almost certainly not random.

What sample size or methodology for the question at hand would satisfy you at this point?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Exactitude_in_Science

Re: Study Finds Link Between Profanity and Honesty

#50

Post by jdietrich »

thesz wrote: post #12

The people who cannot spend energy to control themselves and therefore curse are less prone to using self-control-dependent strategy of lies and deception. Wowsers.

I don't swear because I lack self-control. I swear because those words are powerful and useful. "Bullshit" is an immeasurably better word than any of the alternatives. Some people are entirely deserving of the label "arsehole" or "bastard".

I fundamentally distrust people who don't swear. To me it has always signalled priggishness, timidity and conformity. People who see swearing as a sign of poor education or a limited vocabulary are, in my experience, invariably petty, snobbish and bigoted.

If I want an honest opinion, I'll ask someone who isn't afraid to speak plainly. If I need someone to help me out in a difficult situation, I'll call on someone who swears like a wounded pirate - they're not going to be afraid to get their hands dirty.

We are sacks of meat that fuck and piss and shit. We always will be. If you want to pretend otherwise then good luck to you, but I don't trust you for a second.

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