Why Cursing by Professional Investors Can Aid Investment?
For retail investors in cryptocurrencies, this might be a cost-free buff.
(Background: The basic “stress management” of cryptocurrency enthusiasts. How well can you handle it?)
(Context: The awakening of ordinary Web3 participants: abandoning the mindset of speculative trading and taking a grounded approach!)
Eyes glued to the candlestick chart, cold sweat dripping from the forehead, unable to help but exclaim, “What the hell…”, like a looped surround sound in a trading room. Cursing feels good, and in fact, few can avoid letting out a curse word under high pressure; the more they lose, the louder they curse. However, scientifically speaking, cursing is highly likely to enhance the performance of investors—the more they curse, the stronger they become.
Here’s the situation: everyone is familiar with Formula 1 racing, where drivers often unleash a torrent of profanities over the microphone during races. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) is currently considering regulating the content of radio communications among Formula 1 teams to “keep it clean.” If cursing continues to be an issue, they may even “shut down team radio communications.”
The prohibition of cursing by race car drivers has been met with skepticism by some scientists, especially given the high-stakes nature of the sport, where teams often have large research groups. Their concern is that banning cursing may hinder drivers’ performance.
Logically, the working conditions of race car drivers parallel the heightened excitement experienced by investors, whose hearts race and palms sweat as they must decide every second whether to “fight” (increase or maintain their positions) or “flee” (cut losses or take profits). Past scientific research tells us that cursing not only serves as an emotional release but may also become a secret weapon for high-intensity mental work, enhancing concentration, reaction speed, and even enabling individuals to remain calm in the face of market storms.
Research has shown that cursing can trigger the “fight or flight” response, allowing individuals to endure pressure longer, reducing failure and error rates.
Swearing as a Drug: Controlling the Brain
Let’s delve into some hardcore knowledge: why can cursing assist in investment? The answer lies in the physiological reactions of the brain. When you excitedly blurt out “What the hell,” it activates the primitive survival mechanisms humans employ when facing threats: increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and a surge of adrenaline. These changes transform you from a calm investor into an “all-in” survivor.
A classic experiment from the 2009 study “Swearing as a Response to Pain” had participants submerge their hands in ice water. It was found that those who cursed could endure longer and reported lower subjective pain levels. Why? Because cursing stimulates the amygdala (the brain’s emotional center), distracts attention, and triggers stress responses, enhancing pain tolerance.
Furthermore, a 2018 study by Dr. Stephens et al., titled “The Effect of Swearing on Physical Performance,” found that cursing can enhance performance on high-intensity tasks, such as exhibiting stronger grip strength in strength tests and greater endurance during cycling sprints. The study suggests that cursing may activate the sympathetic nervous system, allowing individuals to unleash their potential under extreme stress.
Returning to the investment scenario, when the market suddenly dips and your position shrinks by 10%, deliberately expressing your frustration with a curse like “What the hell!” could elevate your brain to a heightened state of alertness, enhancing focus and enabling you to quickly determine whether to cut losses or buy the dip. This physiological response could serve as a free buff in the wildly fluctuating cryptocurrency market.
Practical Application
Ethereum might plummet 8% in five minutes, and your heart would be in your throat. At this moment, a curse like “WTF” is not just an emotional release; it might save your life! Scientific evidence suggests that cursing can rapidly alleviate psychological pressure, pulling you back from the brink of insanity.
“Swearing and the Brain: Insights from Neuroscience” points out that cursing stimulates the emotional processing areas of the right brain, helping to regulate negative emotions. This is crucial for investors—imagine watching your contract’s value turn negative, your internal monologue might be “What the hell is going on,” and that phrase not only allows you to vent your anger but also helps your brain refocus, preventing you from being consumed by FOMO.
Moreover, cursing can alleviate the psychological pain of holding losing positions. The proportion of Wall Street traders who curse during market crashes is astonishing; they view it as a natural tool for coping with loss stress.
Science also supports this notion: a 2017 study titled “Emotional Arousal and Swearing” found that cursing can elevate levels of emotional arousal, enabling individuals to remain alert in high-pressure situations. For retail investors, this means that when meme coins plummet by 20%, a few curses might help stabilize your mindset rather than impulsively liquidate your positions.
Of course, it is not advisable to shout profanities in public, but mentally cursing could slightly help your brain regain its judgment. Perhaps you, an investor with a foul mouth, are indeed the chosen one.
