Psychologists say chronic nail biters may not be having a case of anxiety disorder but perfectionism. Though it promotes excellence, perfectionism has its pitfalls

Are you one of those who constantly find yourself nibbling on your nails now and then? You have lost count of how many times your parents or friends have complained about how your nails look all ugly and chewed up (because they are), or how, every time a situation gets awkward or uncomfortable, your fingers end up inevitably inside your mouth. While biting nails is commonly associated with having a case of nerves of anxiety disorder, it is also a habit shared by those who are perfectionists, said psychologists.

Psychology Says Nail Biting May Not Always Be A Case Of Poor Nerves

A 2015 study discovered that not anxiety, but low tolerance for unfinished tasks and imperfections triggered nail-biting and hair-pulling habits in people.

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Initially, the researchers asked 48 participants—half of whom had these problems and the other half did not—about their organisational behaviour and emotional control. Individuals with the illnesses scored as organisational perfectionists, demonstrating a propensity to overwork, overplan, and become easily dissatisfied in the absence of action.

The participants were then placed in scenarios intended to elicit four distinct emotions: stress was evoked by showing a movie of a plane crash; relaxation was encouraged by showing a movie of waves; frustration was evoked by presenting a challenging puzzle but claiming it was simple; and boredom was evoked by having participants sit in a room by themselves. Except for the calming movie, people with the illnesses displayed body-focused behaviours in every circumstance.

The study was eventually published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. The researchers surmised that stress was not the sole culprit behind such habits. Often, these people tend to want to be busy or productive every waking minute, take on several projects together or set impossibly high standards.

An article in Space Daily continued to question the theory that people who are prone to stress tend to bite their nails more.

How Often Is Stress The Culprit Behind Nail Biting?

57.3% of 330 medical students at Tanta University in Egypt were active nail biters in a cross-sectional study; nevertheless, there was no discernible difference between biters and non-biters on the Perceived Stress Scale. The frequency or duration of their bites had no bearing on the degree of stress.

What Causes Perfectionism?

According to Psychology Today, perfectionists are driven by two instincts: fear of failure and impossible standards of being flawless. Perfectionism can manifest in three behaviours: there is the tendency to have impossible standards for yourself and being devastated when you fail to meet them. People who are other-oriented perfectionists often have unrealistic standards of behaviour and conduct from others.

Perceiving irrational expectations from others is a component of socially mandated perfectionism.

While being hard-working or ambitious or striving for excellence is, of course, admirable, perfectionism can also cause bad habits such as procrastination, being too rigid in how one thinks or having black-and-white views on the world, lack of creativity, and engaging in toxic comparisons.

Some More Perils Of Perfectionism

According to a study published in the Discover Psychology journal on Springer Nature, there was a negative correlation between perfectionism and divergent thinking, or the knack for coming up with original ideas. The study was carried out on 282 students, and the researchers found that perfectionism also correlated with lower empathy and greater primary negative emotions such as fear. The study also explains why perfectionists may struggle to come up with creative ideas.

Real creative problem-solving scenarios are dangerous by nature. Fear of failure, fear of being different, fear of rejection, fear of criticism or mockery, and fear of consequences are some of the insecurities and anxieties that might accompany creative ideas when the conclusion is uncertain. The ability to let go, improvise, play, and fail—all essential components of a divergent way of thinking—may be hampered by these feelings and the evaluative worries that frequently accompany perfectionistic norms.