Aggression behind nail-biting

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 22

Aggression behind nail-biting

By

DENISE WINN,

Nail-biting;in adults is not a nervous reaction nor just a bad habit. It is a form ,of aggression, according to Kay Harding, a psychology student at University College,

Swansea.*l Her study has won her the British' Psychological Society’s. Welsh award' for young ' psychologist of the year 1980.- r’ . She. rah personality tests on 17-adults who were nailbiters and 18 who were not and found that, although the nail-biters claimed stress and boredom as the reasons for their habit, there was no evidence of their being more neurotic than non nail-biters. When she tested both groups for feelings of frustration, she found that a high proportion of nailbiters had a strong tendency towards aggression, which they directed against themselves. Rather than nail-biting

in the “Observer,” London

being just one means of reducing tension,. where other people might smoke.- or’chew gum, as : ,previous studies

have suggested, Miss Harding found 'that;, nail-biters: were also more likely to smoke than non-biters and to indulge in other unconscious habits, such, as/lip-

biting and hair-sucking.

When made aware of their actions during intensive therapy, most nail-biters were able to give up the habit.