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Q&A: Experts discuss rise of profanity from politicians

Q&A: Experts discuss rise of profanity from politicians
Phys.org Wednesday 03 June 2026, 16:20 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

In American politics, cursing and "four-letter words" are no longer confined to hot mics or hidden behind closed doors. Politicians and pundits are increasingly using so-called "bad words" in speeches, social media posts and campaign ads. Benjamin Bergen, professor of cognitive science, and Pamela Ban, associate professor of political science, both from UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences, examine why swearing among politicians is on the rise and what it reveals about persuasion,...

In American politics, cursing and "four-letter words" are no longer confined to hot mics or hidden behind closed doors. Politicians and pundits are increasingly using so-called "bad words" in speeches, social media posts and campaign ads. Benjamin Bergen, professor of cognitive science, and Pamela Ban, associate professor of political science, both from UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences, examine why swearing among politicians is on the rise and what it reveals about persuasion, emotion and modern public discourse.
American (ORG) Benjamin Bergen (PERSON) Pamela Ban (PERSON) UC San Diego's (ORG) School of Social Sciences (ORG)
Originally published by Phys.org Read original →

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