Fingernail Biting: Theory, Research and Treatment

ISBN-13: 9789401163255 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 177 str.

N. H. Hadley

Opis

Everyone exhibits styles of movement and speech, traits and habits which are characteristic of them as people but do not contribute dir- ectly to their purposeful activity at anyone time. Many of these will be expressions of personality of which the individual may be unaware or even cherish and which evoke a favorable or neutral response from others. Conversely, displays such as gross involuntary tics or compul- sive rituals are a burden to the sufferer and are socially embarrassing or obnoxious. These may be manifestations of a more fundamental neurotic disorder or the product of deep-seated maladaptive learning. Nail-biting occupies a central position along such a spectrum. Al- though it may serve as a tension-reducing or other functional device, few nail-biters would not wish to be rid of the habit but find it as difficult to eliminate as, say, an addiction to smoking. Even so, it cannot be considered abnormal in a psychiatric sense in that many nail-biters exhibit none of the traits and symptoms characteristic of mental disorder.

Spis treści

1. Significance and Medical Classification of Nailbiting.- Emotional Significance of Nailbiting.- Nailbiting and Dentition.- Medical Classification of Nailbiting.- Description of Nailbiting.- 2. Anatomy and Growth Rate of the Fingernail.- Anatomical Description of the Fingernail.- Sources of Variation in Fingernail Growth Rates.- Measurement of the Rate of Nail Growth.- Measurement Techniques Used in Behavioral Studies of Nailbiting.- 3. Age, Sex, Personality, Intelligence, and Sociological Variables.- Age and Sex Trends.- Personality Characteristics.- Intelligence Factors.- Situational Factors.- Family Variables.- Relation to Other Behavioral Problems.- 4. Theories on the Cause of Nailbiting.- Tension-Nailbiting Issue.- Integration Hypothesis.- Consistency Theory of Nailbiting.- Coping and Expressive Functions of Nailbiting.- Environmental Restriction Model.- Azrin and Nunn’s Explanation for Fingernail Biting and Its Persistence.- Discomfort Theory.- The Role of Imitation.- Rough-Edge Nailbiting Hypothesis.- Motor Learning Theory.- 5. Methods of Treatment.- Aversive Methods.- Self-Control Procedures.- Self-Contracts.- The Role of Imagery.- “Negative” Methods of Treatment.- Techniques Related to Care of the Nails.- Efficacy of Symptomatic Treatment.- Awareness Factors in the Treatment of Nailbiting.- Self-Judgment of Hands.- Azrin and Nunn’s Habit Reversal Method.- Critique of Competing-Reaction Technique.- Statements Made by Former Nailbiters and Nonnailbiters.- References.