Well it should actually be the Treibel theory, but that doesn’t matter.* This theory is actually pretty simple and I thought of it sometime last year (If you wanted to know.) The Tribal Theory is the idea that everyone has words that they use at moments of intensity in their life. For example If I drop a large rock on my foot, and it causes me great pain I am going to yell something. Habits based on hearing what others say would lead us to cuss at that moment.
Here is where the theory kicks in. When you parents/authority figures tell you not to cuss most people** use replacements for these ‘vile’ words***. Crap, Dang, Shoot, Gosh Darn, etc; you know what I am talking about. My Theory is that a habit is a habit, while you have stopped cussing you are still vocally proclaming your negative viewpoint of the situation you are in at that moment, thus the problem still exists. While it is not completly impossible to get rid of this habit, it is pretty hard and so we cast off the convictions of this half solved problem and continue to live our lives like what we are saying is fine. I have seen pastors with this problem. Its amazing how unaware of the root of the problem people seem to be, or maybe its just me.
*Tribal is easier to remember and explain to others
**There are very few cases where the person will gain the habit of not saying anything, this would be the right thing to do.
***Which do nothing more than shut them up
Very interesting, I like it.
Whats a tribel?