Nail Biting & Hair Twirling: Signs of Perfectionism?

Do you twist your hair, bite your nails, or tap your foot without even realizing? According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Montreal, it might mean you're a perfectionist.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Behavior worked with 48 participants. Half engaged in repetitive body-focused behavior, and the other participants acted as a control group. Participants were asked questions about when they felt emotions like boredom, guilt, anger, anxiety, and irritability and were then exposed to situations designed to provoke these emotions.

The researchers found that those participants with a history of body-focused behavior described greater urges to engage in those behaviors when they were feeling frustrated and stressed.

How are these body-focused behaviors linked to perfectionism?

Kieron O'Connor, PhD, shares the recent study that links body-focused behavior with perfectionism.