Abstract

The relationship of swearing in respect to personality, religiosity, and social influences was analyzed in this study. Many assumptions are made about the effects of swear words and the act of swearing can have on an individual. The present study hypothesizes that the use of swears words is dependent on an individual's personality characteristics and that exposure first happens from an external source (mass media outlets) rather than a familiar source (family member). More specifically, extroverted personality types will be more likely to engage in the use of profanity, due to their more impulsive nature. Online surveys such as the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and The Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, & Sensation Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) were used to collect data from 763 participants. The results indicated impulsivity was positively correlated with personality characteristics of neuroticism and swearing acceptance. Swearing acceptance was negatively correlated with how often participants' families took part in religious activities growing up and was positively correlated with how important religion is the participant, their family, and religious affiliation. In conclusion, familial exposure (i.e., mother) was dominant over any media source for exposure to swearing, which goes against the previous assumptions about swearing.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2013

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Wright, Chrysalis

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Degree Program

Psychology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Location

UCF South Lake

Format

PDF

Identifier

CFH0004326

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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