Do you bite your nails often?
Do you get scolded for that because it is a bad habit?
Are you someone who still cannot stop yourself from not doing it?
If you answered yes to all these questions, don’t worry. You might just be a perfectionist!
Yes, researchers say that nail biting is actually a sign of perfection. A study conducted by University of Montreal professor Kieron O’Connor examined the behaviour of 48 individuals, half of whom suffered with repetitive behaviour such as nil-biting, skin-picking and hair-pulling. The participants took part in stressful, relaxing, frustrating, and boring tests and it was found that those with a history of repetitive behaviours had a greater urge to engage in these habits during the boredom and frustration sections.
The study says that this proves that these behaviours aren’t associated with nerves, and are actually linked with perfectionist beliefs. So if you are biting your nails or pulling your hair, you are just bored.
Professor Connor said, “We believe that individuals with these repetitive behaviours maybe perfectionistic, meaning that they are unable to relax and to perform tasks at a ‘normal’ pace. They are therefore prone to frustration, impatience, and dissatisfaction when they do not reach their goals. Although these behaviours can induce important distress, they also seem to satisfy an urge and deliver some form of reward.”