Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Operant learning (R-S) principles applied to nail-biting

T M McClanahan1

  • 1Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Department of Psychology, Culver City, California 90230, USA.

Psychological Reports
|October 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

Finding Freudenfreude: Deriving Subjective Well-Being From Passive Observation of a Relational Tie's Happiness via Social Media Post.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Flourishing and Quality of Life as Indicators of Psychological Well-Being in Adults.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Understanding Love in Couple Relationships: A Scoping Review of Sternberg's Triangular Theory.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Psychological Impacts of Instagram Use: The Interplay of Social Comparison, Self-Esteem, and Anxiety.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

The Effect of Self-Compassion on Shame in Post-Event Processing.

Psychological reports·2026
Same journal

Tracking Rumination as a Stable Habit (TRASH); Scale Modification and Convergent Validity in a Clinical Sample of Youth With a History of Depression.

Psychological reports·2026
See all related articles

This study reduced fingernail-biting using R-S learning and self-awareness techniques. Increased self-awareness and relaxation methods effectively decreased nail-biting frequency and duration.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Nail-biting is a common habit that can lead to physical damage and social stigma.
  • Understanding the antecedents and effective interventions for habit reversal is crucial for clinical practice.

Observation:

  • A 32-year-old Caucasian woman participated in a 28-day study using a reversal-replication (ABAB) research design.
  • Self-monitoring data revealed anxiety as the most frequent antecedent to fingernail-biting.
  • A preliminary questionnaire and interview informed the intervention strategy.

Findings:

  • R-S learning principles, combined with increased self-awareness, were applied to reduce fingernail-biting.
  • Systematic desensitization techniques, including deep muscle relaxation and Transcendental Meditation, were employed during the treatment phase.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The intervention successfully decreased the frequency and duration of the fingernail-biting behavior.

    • Implications:

    • Increased self-awareness is a key factor in habit extinction for behaviors like nail-biting.
    • Relaxation techniques and R-S learning offer a viable therapeutic approach for managing body-focused repetitive behaviors.
    • This case study highlights the potential of combining behavioral strategies with mindfulness for habit modification.