Coprolalia: the irrepressible impulse to say obscenities

Some people can't help the impulse to swear. Why does this happen?

When we talk about the rationality of human beings, we often think of our ability to use language, to reason through it and to formulate logical arguments through its use. However, language is not totally isolated from the irrational side of brain functioning.

A phenomenon called coprolalia shows us that, when some changes occur in our nervous system, the involuntary and automatic component on which cognitive functions such as the use of language are based is revealed.

What is coprolalia?

Etymologically, the origin of the term coprolalia is the union of two Greek words meaning "stool" and "to babble". Coprolalia or cacolalia is the tendency to say obscene words and phrases impulsively, without having control over it, in a sustained manner over time.and in a sustained manner over time. Normally, these swear words and phrases are pronounced louder than normal, as if they were explosions of rage, and every time this is done, a feeling of guilt may appear.

The reason for this is that coprolalia is a pathological tendency related to a type of dehinibition. What cannot be inhibited in cases of coprolalia has to do, precisely, with words and expressions that are not socially accepted or that are linked to aggressive behavior. People with this tendency may, for example, insult someone and immediately afterwards show their repentance..

Behind coprolalia there is a very stereotyped and often repeated thought pattern: attention is attracted to thoughts that have to do with taboo or unpleasant ideas, and then these ideas are expressed verbally immediately, as if it were something irresistible, and involuntarily.

Scatological verbalizations in coprolalia

Coprolalia is a pathological tendency based on impulses towards scatological verbalizations, but also towards derogatory remarks, swear words in general and ideas that are taboo. These verbalizations can be single words or can be more or less complex sentences.

For example, it is common in cases of coprolalia to say many words referring to genitalia or sexual acts, and insults to genitalia or sexual acts may also appear.and insults to people who may or may not be around at the time may also appear.

Coprolalia in Tourette Syndrome

Coprolalia is one of the symptoms most associated with Tourette Syndrome, an inherited disorder in which the person reproduces many verbal and motor tics involuntarily. Unpleasant verbalizations are one of the repetitive and involuntary components of these tics, and coprolalia is one of the symptoms that can generate greater social rejection..

In spite of the fact that less than half of the people affected by the Syndrome of Tourette present coprolalia, being one of the most striking symptoms it has been associated culturally to this one, as if it was an essential and indesligable component of the syndrome. In this respect, the case of the Chilean child Agustín Arenas, "Super Taldo", whose verbalizations and tics became viral in the 90's, is well known in Latin America.

Another phenomenon similar to coprolalia and which is also associated with Tourette Syndrome is the copropraxiacoprolalia, the tendency to involuntarily and impulsively perform obscene and inappropriate gestures.

Causes of coprolalia

The exact Biological cause of coprolalia is currently unknown.That is, the physical and chemical abnormalities in the structure and function of the brain that cause these verbalizations to appear. However, it is assumed that coprolalia is produced by the same anomalies in the functioning of the mechanisms of inhibition that cause involuntary tics to appear in people with Tourette's Syndrome.

That is to say, that hypothetically the people who present coprolalia cannot repress the thoughts related to obscenities, and they have to go expressing them aloud as if they were managing an escape valve that prevents that a great discomfort is accumulated as these ideas are inhibited.

Coping strategies

There is no known form of treatment that guarantees the total disappearance of the signs of coprolalia, and that is why the best way to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of people who experience it has to involve teaching them coping strategies. That is to say, ways to manage the presence of coprolalia as well as possible..

These coping strategies are usually related to finding ways to muffle obscene verbalizations, for example by pronouncing only the first letters of the word to be said or mumbling it between the teeth. However, in some cases these strategies will not be effective, as it is very difficult to predict when the words will be uttered.

Beyond these methods, a very invasive form of treatment that can reduce the intensity with which coprolalia is expressed is the use of botulinum toxin (botox) near the vocal cords, partially paralyzing them and causing the volume and intensity of these outbursts to decrease.