Habits and the Behavioral and Social Cognitive Theories

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Habits and The Influence of Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Theories Marianne Shilling PSY/250 November 12, 2012 Anne Snyder Habits and The Influence of Behavioral and Social-Cognitive Theories Each individual develops growth patterns similar and different to other individuals. Sometimes these patterns present as habits. A child has habits that change or disappear by the age of adulthood. The habits that do not disappear may be attributed to a traumatic event or developmental impedance. Because the originations of certain habits that stay on through to adulthood are almost impossible to determine, they are worth investigating to try to understand their effects on the individual. One particular habit of interest is the nail-biting that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. It is a nervous habit and can be distracting for others (Stiefer, 2001, p27, 3p). This particular habit comes from situations in the developmental childhood upsetting or anxious to the individual. When the child begins nail-biting, many times it is because he or she observed this action from a family member. This family member, who may be an adult and absent-mindedly engages in this act, is subliminally transmitting this habit to the child. This is why many adults who continue this habit do not know exactly how or when the habit started. The child is somewhat aware that the person observed is doing this while anxious or nervous. It is a very common habit many people practice almost daily. Nail-biting is a common and very difficult nervous habit to break. Therefore, by its very nature, it is problematic and requires a large amount of attention to the act to break it. Attempting to break the habit makes the individual nervous, thus creating a catch-22 situation. It is best to ask for help when the individual is ready because a trusted friend or relative will be

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