It’s their taboo status that gives swear words power: the more restrictions you put on something, the more alluring it is to say. In saying something that we’re not really supposed to say, we’re pointing out that this topic is so important to us that we’re willing to cross boundaries to make that clear.
There may be another reason why we swear so much. Studies by psychologist Timothy Jay, of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, have found that swearing can provide both emotional release and relief from pain.
Full story: Why Do People Swear? : Discovery News