Many people have caught themselves doing it without even thinking. While reading emails, watching television, studying, or waiting in line, they begin biting or picking at the skin around their fingers. The behavior is so common that many people don't notice it until someone points it out. Psychology suggests this habit often has less to do with poor self-control than people assume. Instead, it can develop through a combination of stress, repetition, emotional regulation, and the brain's tendency to repeat behaviors that provide temporary relief.
That doesn't mean everyone who bites the skin around their fingers has a psychological disorder. Many people do it occasionally without experiencing significant problems. However, when the behavior becomes frequent, difficult to stop, or causes injury, researchers say several well-established psychological concepts help explain why.
