Talk:Nail biting

Absurd

This entire article is perfectly ridiculous, there's absolutely nothing wrong with ordinary nail biting, its a natural and instinctual behaviour, no different that eating drinking or sex. humans have lived 99 percent of our history without advanced metal tools such as nail clippers. Can you imagine stone age tribespeople sitting down with a flake of flint or obsidian to trim their nails, It would seem terribly awkward and possibly dangerous, not to mention a major pain in the arse. Which is not to say that there are indeed cases of nail biting becoming a self-destructive habit. If sufferers had bleeding fingers or infected skin than clearly this would be the case, However aside from these exceptions, the claim that nail biting is somehow a disorder is merely an example of modern people applying their own cultural biases or phobias- if examined in light of the historical evidence, it is a claim that is found to be patently absurd. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.222.110.145 (talk) 18:21, 8 May 2010 (UTC)

Er not it's not natural instinctive behavior (you're probably talking about habits). Nail biting is a (compulsive) habit for many people. That in itself is a psychological aspect. But many times, nail biting can reveal an underlying anxiety disorder or compulsive problem. If it is a (chronic) habit, then there is a problem. You don't sit around biting nails every hour right? If you do, then you may have underlying anxiety disorder, impulse control difficulties, etc. Most people don't normally bite their nails, and if they do, many times it is a compulsive habit. - M0rphzone (talk) 05:17, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

Agreed! I've always had a pet theory that nailbiting is a behaviour evolved in human ancestors as a form of hygiene. Nails, the vestigial remains of claws, are a common environment for dirt and parasites, so the easiest way to keep them from causing trouble for an organism which already has them was to develop a habit of biting them off. That being said, I have absolutely no evidence to support that because the evolutionary science departments are being funded and controlled by people supporting the whole "nailbiting is a disorder" conspiracy. Horrible days we live in. 93.105.203.24 (talk) 18:29, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

Well this is original research, so you'll have to find some sources first. But commenting on your theory, if humans bit their nails to clean them, that would be counter-intuitive since they could be ingesting large amounts of bacteria, dirt, etc. (and remember, this is before easily accessible water faucets for hand-washing, hand sanitizers, nail clippers, or any sort of scissors/manicure sets). - M0rphzone (talk) 05:17, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

I hope that you have noticed that at no point it is called disorder or disease, but compulsive habit. In addition you may have noticed that as opposed to many articles this one is fully referenced to high quality articles. If you have any reference on the nail biting habit in past times it will most welcome. Best regards.--Garrondo (talk) 06:39, 9 May 2010 (UTC)

I agree. Many people bite their nails and most of them don't do it to the point of bleeding or damaging the fingernails themselves, but merely to keep them short. I've bitten my nails for many years and they aren't deformed or bleeding, they look normal. I know other people who are similar. I can understand the natural behaviour idea, long nails aren't benefical to humans and often quite brittle so it would make sense to keep them short. I agree that some people do suffer from excessive biting of the nails to the point of damanging them, but for the larger population it's not the case. That being said, this is merely my POV and I'm no leading expert. Sigh.. 86.185.159.83 (talk) 12:17, 10 January 2012 (UTC)

I think nail biting helps to strength the immune system. Also, this article reeks of POV -- nail-biting is perfectly acceptable. 150.204.51.181 (talk) 14:32, 21 January 2011 (UTC)

No it doesn't. Just another myth that people seem to think up. - M0rphzone (talk) 04:59, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

If a person bites his/her nails too often, it can indicate a possible anxiety disorder or mental disorder, and may be a coping mechanism. This can also be a habit, which is another psychological behavior. This psychological/medical aspect should probably be addressed. - M0rphzone (talk) 04:59, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

consistant nail biter

i am a nail biter i know it's bad for your health but i can't stop. ( i even think i bite my nails in my sleep) but i know you can get bitter nail polish you put on your nails to make it taste bad. i just can't find ours. any good luck to all nail biters who r trying to stop>

I have been biting my nails since I was two years old and the only thing I have found to help me stop is if I get artifical nails. my habit is so bad that now my child has started her own habit of biting her nails.

my girl friend bites her nails and i would say she has emotional disorder —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.243.96.183 (talk) 08:43, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

This Reeks of POV and Original Resource

Guitar players bite their nails all the time, if we're playing and the finger nails hampering its easy to bite it off then and there.128.189.171.108

Pictures

The article is pretty short so why do we need two pictures illustrating "a compulsive nail-biter" and "an extreme nail-biter"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.129.110.104 (talk) 18:00, 1 May 2009 (UTC)

Agree: One of the two images has been recently added but adds nothing. I am going to eliminate it. Thanks for pointing it out. Bests.--Garrondo (talk) 08:42, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Nail pulling

Is there a term for "nail pulling"? I know there's Trichotillomania for the disorder/habit of pulling hair but not nails.--DrWho42 (talk) 04:06, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

• Onychotillomania --My Core Competency is Competency (talk) 16:43, 17 August 2011 (UTC)