<p>Nail-biting is considered a <strong>parafunctional habit</strong>. A parafunctional habit is the habitual exercise of a body part in a way that isn't the way that that part was intended to be used. Other common parafunctional habits include bruxism (grinding of teeth), hair-pulling, and picking at skin.</p>

<p>Nobody knows what causes these habits. Possible physical or psychological causes may include emotions (aggression, anxiety, stress, tension), hyperactivity, complications from other disorders (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder), or as a coping or focus mechanism, similar to how babies and young children find it soothing to suck on their thumbs.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-22T20:39:25.347Z
2015-08-22T20:39:25.347Z
Sydney Maples
<p>Why do people bite their nails? People seem to be doing it primarily while contemplating something, or during problem-solving tasks. They seem to understand it is a bad habit, and sometimes they seem to try to active avoid it, but keep on doing it nonetheless so it seems. Why does this happen? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-29T11:18:19.273Z
Welcome to Cognitive Sciences. Self-help questions are discouraged here and I have attempted to re-word your question by deleting any reference to self.
AliceD
<cognitive-psychology>
Why do people bite their nails even when they do not want to?
jht
# Why do people bite their nails even when they do not want to?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-29)

Why do people bite their nails? People seem to be doing it primarily while contemplating something, or during problem-solving tasks. They seem to understand it is a bad habit, and sometimes they seem to try to active avoid it, but keep on doing it nonetheless so it seems. Why does this happen?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Cognitive Sciences. Self-help questions are discouraged here and I have attempted to re-word your question by deleting any reference to self.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-22. Score: 2

Nail-biting is considered a **parafunctional habit**. A parafunctional habit is the habitual exercise of a body part in a way that isn't the way that that part was intended to be used. Other common parafunctional habits include bruxism (grinding of teeth), hair-pulling, and picking at skin.

Nobody knows what causes these habits. Possible physical or psychological causes may include emotions (aggression, anxiety, stress, tension), hyperactivity, complications from other disorders (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder), or as a coping or focus mechanism, similar to how babies and young children find it soothing to suck on their thumbs.


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