Tourette's syndrome and demon posession?

Question

Firstly, let's clear up the myth that Tourette's is uncontrolled swearing. That's just one form of it. But it is the form I wish to discuss here. It came up in a discussion last night, and I asked why this form of Tourette's manifests itself in the form of profanity specifically, and not just any random words. A mate of mine said that he thinks it's a sign of demonic posession. I replied that being an atheist I prefer to look for more rational explanations, but I have to confess to you good people and true, I am buggered if I have the slightest idea what that rational explanation might be.

Anyone care to have a crack at this one? Why swearing specifically, and not just random words?

Answer 1

Interestingly enough, swear words are stored more deeply in the brain than the grammar and words which are typically used in sentences.
A patient who has lost the ability to communicate in sentences, and even in words appropriate to the context (i.e., ones with "expressive aphasia"), will frequently utter only swear words. I have seen this many times in stroke and traumatic brain injury patients.
The swearing in Tourette's is frequently due to the same phenomenon, but is often colored by another symptom; disinhibition.
Tourette's is NOT due to demonic possession; it is due to aberrant "wiring" in the brain.
Patients with this very debilitating illness struggle for acceptance many times per day. They need understanding from everyone, even your hopelessly ignorant friend.
Tell the guy to get out of the church and into the classroom; fundamentalists like him are the ones who perpetuate hatred when there shouldn't be any.

Answer 2

There's actually a "cussing" area in the brain -- or so I recently read on New Scientist's web site.

There's also the psychological and social effect of cussing, compared to random words, and it may also have to do with that.

'Demons' is the explanation for mental illness that people had when they didn't understand anything about it at all.

But then, there's probably no reasoning with someone who thinks demonic posession is real; reason would have no weight with them.

Edit after realizing this was posted to the R&S category: Under Social Sciences is a Psychology category. That's where you're most likely to find psychologically sophisticated, rational explanations for the cussing. Though you've gotten some good answers here.

Answer 3

I can't believe you are actually asking this. FYI, Tourette Syndrome (TS) is NOT something to be rationalized, and coprolalia, or cursing, only affects less than 10% of all who have TS. And the real reason that it's usually just a few words is because TS is often accompanied by other conditions, such as OCD and ADHD, among others, that run very predictable patterns of behavior. These tics are not our choice (yes, I do have TS myself) and if we really had a choice in what our tics were, we'd gladly explain to you why we "choose" the ones we do. But we can't. There is no rational answer to your question, and insisting upon getting an answer will do nothing but piss people off.

Answer 4

I just recently found out from my father in laws doctor that Tourette's syndrome if it manifests as an adult it is the first link to Alzheimer's. He was diagnosed 6 months ago with Alzheimer's but has had Tourette's for 45 years. Tourette's affects the same part of the brain that Alzheimer's starts in.There is alot more then just the profanity, there is also facial ticks, sudden involuntary jerking of the limbs, bobbing of the head when trying to control the vocal outbursts. Profanity is just one way of release, they also pick up words and sounds and these also come out, such as a mule braying or a dog barking.

Answer 5

It's not just swearing. My son has Tourettes and he will get stuck on a word that he outbursts. When he was very little he would be "birdcat".

The cussing is called coprolalia. I don't know much about it because my son doesn't do it.

I think only 10% of Tourettes people do that.

Answer 6

Think of it as a verbal tic. Expletives are the content free form of verbal expression.

If you already did your reading you know that most Tourette's sufferers have facial or limb twitches. Vocalizing is usually meaningless sounds.
I have heard a woman with a form of Touretts where she would screech out self crticisms for misplacing dicuments she was working on. It was very disruptive, utterly meaningless but because the words were understandable sentences it was worse than if she had simply let out an occasional obscenity.
I am including one link to Scientfic American on the subject even though it is not terribly helpful.
http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=000BDCDD-B296-1C71-9EB7809EC588F2D7

Answer 7

It's not just profanity, it's anything which a person knows they "shouldn't" say. It is a type of seizure which manifests in the prefrontal cortex, where rational thought and moral decisions are made.

It's like me telling you NOT to think of the word PICKLE for 60 seconds. It's impossible. In the same sense, words associated with certain situations will come into the mind, and trying to hold them back is the nature of the disorder.

I hope that makes sense. Epilepsy was once thought to be demonic posession as well. Thank God we're coming out of the Dark Ages of ingnorance.

Answer 8

I used to be friends with a person who had TS. I don't know if he ever swore, but I can tell you this, he was not demon posessed. This guy was the closest thing I had ever seen to Jesus at the time. I was so awed by that I could barely speak to the guy. The Holy Spirit was raining out of him in all directions. I do believe in demon possession, but I can't think of a biblical example that sounds anything like TS.

Answer 9

Tourette's causes involuntary actions on the part of the sufferer. Thus, it affects certain parts of the brain that would otherwise be used to exert control over behaviors the person would prefer to not exhibit. Among these behaviors are swearing.

Answer 10

I know a person who has tourettes that says the names of his family members during a spasm and most people are completely silent. Swearing is sometimes the manifestation of a spasm because these spasms are quite frustrating and swear words often come out of people's mouths uncontrollably when they do such things as stub their toe or suddenly surprised.