Yes, I remember now that maybe I have read something similar in one of those "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus" books :)
There is a lot of truth in them! 
Maybe this is the case when talking about swearing as a means of emotional venting. But I've started to notice that (young) people just tend to use it in everyday speech and they pretty much all the time say: "I don't consider this way of talking violent. l don't mean to be rude or offensive. I just feel relaxed enough in your company to be the way I am."
Pinker seems to be a great author aiming at a more general audience. I enjoy very much his style and sense of humour.