Nail chewing is evolutionarily rational

[The Floridian Coast]

I have thought about this a lot. People most commonly say that chewing on your nails is a bad habit, and that may be so, I understand all of the associate bacteria and your hands are dirty and blah blah blah, yeah I know. But isn't there an evolutionary reason to chew nails?

Long nails couldn't have been too beneficial for the first humans, they inhibit the ability to use our hands most efficiently. Of course, completely flat and non-growing nails wouldn't have worked either, because sometimes our nails need some sharpness to get things done. So it would only make sense that we evolved an instinct to bite off our own nails, so they weren't getting in the way and inhibiting life. Nail clippers are a recent invention. So despite all of the things to dislike about it, I'd really have to think chewing nails is as natural as breathing.

Thoughts?

[Oterro]

Makes it hard to peel oranges.

[Naurobia]

It may be impractical in modern day life but your hypothesis makes sense.

[Norstal]

I have thought about this a lot. People most commonly say that chewing on your nails is a bad habit, and that may be so, I understand all of the associate bacteria and your hands are dirty and blah blah blah, yeah I know. But isn't there an evolutionary reason to chew nails?

Long nails couldn't have been too beneficial for the first humans, they inhibit the ability to use our hands most efficiently. Of course, completely flat and non-growing nails wouldn't have worked either, because sometimes our nails need some sharpness to get things done. So it would only make sense that we evolved an instinct to bite off our own nails, so they weren't getting in the way and inhibiting life. Nail clippers are a recent invention. So despite all of the things to dislike about it, I'd really have to think chewing nails is as natural as breathing.

Thoughts?

I actually would've thought that biting your nail is more tedious than reducing its growth by grinding it with a rock or using fingernail files. I never seem to be able to break my nails by just biting it.

[Interstellar Britannia]

No, it is a very nasty habit that is both dirty, uncouth, and ruins your teeth.

Ever since man invented sharp implements, they had a means to cut their nails to unfeminine lengths. Biting nails is tantamount to devolution into pre-civilisation neanderthals.

[Total Georgism]

Meh, I bite my nails all the time without even thinking about it.

[Imsogone]

In a "primitive" (I.e. non-technological) culture, nails were worn down in the course of doing strenuous physical work. So doubt much nail-biting occured. I think it 's a more recent, stress-related behavior that's a regression to thumb-sucking as a comforting act. Of course, I'm neither psychologist nor anthropologist, but that makes more sense to me.

[Make up your own mind]

Apparently other animals do this as well. I would say that it was evolutionarily rational.

[Tubbsalot]

I guess you could also argue that ingesting the nails, which are indeed some of the dirtiest parts of the body, allowed us to acclimatise our bodies to disease - eating it and putting it through the stomach is enough to severely weaken most pathogenic contamination, which means it works similarly to a vaccine.

This is also the theory behind why we ingest our own mucous, by the way.

[Zeth Rekia]

Zeno bites nails when curious or nervous. But otherwise... no... not ever.

Always the clean hand though... never the hand Zeno wipes with... that's ew.

[Utopia FTW]

From a cracked article;
"Nail-biting can have devastating and disgusting effects if it becomes too severe. Irreparable damage can be caused to the sufferer's cuticles if nothing is done about the condition. It can also harm teeth, and has been shown to transfer bacteria from around your body into your mouth. Cases have been reported of people transferring pinworms from the anus to the mouth by nail biting. Along with bad cuticles, gross teeth and ass worms in your mouth, nail biting also can affect a person's employability, self-esteem and social interactions."

[Oterro]

I guess you could also argue that ingesting the nails, which are indeed some of the dirtiest parts of the body, allowed us to acclimatise our bodies to disease - eating it and putting it through the stomach is enough to severely weaken most pathogenic contamination, which means it works similarly to a vaccine.

This is also the theory behind why we ingest our own mucous, by the way.

People ingest the nails?

I just spit mine out.

[Laerod]

I have thought about this a lot. People most commonly say that chewing on your nails is a bad habit, and that may be so, I understand all of the associate bacteria and your hands are dirty and blah blah blah, yeah I know. But isn't there an evolutionary reason to chew nails?

Long nails couldn't have been too beneficial for the first humans, they inhibit the ability to use our hands most efficiently. Of course, completely flat and non-growing nails wouldn't have worked either, because sometimes our nails need some sharpness to get things done. So it would only make sense that we evolved an instinct to bite off our own nails, so they weren't getting in the way and inhibiting life. Nail clippers are a recent invention. So despite all of the things to dislike about it, I'd really have to think chewing nails is as natural as breathing.

Thoughts?

Modern human beings don't work with their hands as much as prehistoric people did, thus they don't wear down their nails. The idea that we evolved an instinct to bite our nails is about as reasonable as implying animals did the same. They don't; since they don't have desk jobs, they still naturally wear down their nails (and teeth) naturally.

[The Merchant Republics]

In a "primitive" (I.e. non-technological) culture, nails were worn down in the course of doing strenuous physical work. So doubt much nail-biting occured. I think it 's a more recent, stress-related behavior that's a regression to thumb-sucking as a comforting act. Of course, I'm neither psychologist nor anthropologist, but that makes more sense to me.

I'm inclined to agree.

Chewing your nails is usually brought on by stress and you usually won't do it otherwise, if it were a grooming pattern we wouldn't see that.

[Make up your own mind]

The idea that we evolved an instinct to bite our nails is about as reasonable as implying animals did the same. They don't; since they don't have desk jobs, they still naturally wear down their nails (and teeth) naturally.

Actually they do http://www.pawnation.com/2010/05/10/pet ... -behavior/

[Tannarabia]

Biting nails would have been a very effective way for VERY early humans to cut their nails. First off, since we evolved from primates, we would have climbed trees alot, so biting nails rather than just chopping them off would have been the way. However, in our modern society, it is and forever will be(until, for some odd reaso[me] society breaks down) unclean and under cutting.

[Alevuss]

I only bite my nails when I don't have nail clippers within a reachable walking distance and they are so awkwardly sharp/jagged that I must deal with them immediately.

I do see your point, though.

[Laerod]

The idea that we evolved an instinct to bite our nails is about as reasonable as implying animals did the same. They don't; since they don't have desk jobs, they still naturally wear down their nails (and teeth) naturally.

Actually they do http://www.pawnation.com/2010/05/10/pet ... -behavior/

Kinda supports my earlier claim insofar as they're domesticated and don't have to engage in behavior that would normally wear down their nails.

[Tubbsalot]

People ingest the nails?

I just spit mine out.

Man I don't know, but the important thing is you put it in your mouth.

[Ifreann]

I think this is a pretty resounding "No, not really".

[Lordieth]

I bite my nails. However for me it's a sign of stress and/or anxiety. Or boredom, deep thought, concentration, nicotine withdrawal, tiredness, hyperactivity, impatience, interest, daydreaming and generally just as a comforting thing to do.

So yeah I basically type with stubs O_o'

I like the OP's theory. It certainly seems like an evolutionary throwback.

I am going to stop biting my nails and buy a damn nail file and buffer.

[Make up your own mind]

Actually they do http://www.pawnation.com/2010/05/10/pet ... -behavior/

Kinda supports my earlier claim insofar as they're domesticated and don't have to engage in behavior that would normally wear down their nails.

Yeah it kinda does.

[Idealismania]

In a "primitive" (I.e. non-technological) culture, nails were worn down in the course of doing strenuous physical work. So doubt much nail-biting occured. I think it 's a more recent, stress-related behavior that's a regression to thumb-sucking as a comforting act. Of course, I'm neither psychologist nor anthropologist, but that makes more sense to me.

I know I pick at my nails and bite/clip them constantly. But it's worse when I'm under stress or can't focus on something that I want to. Then I do it almost subconsciously.

[Lackadaisical2]

It would have to be a fairly recent evolution- your nails get worn down fast enough generally when you're strutin' about in the wild.

[Marcurix]

Onychophagia, the scientific term for nail biting, is one of the most common medical conditions in the world.

here is a helpful article:

http://www.cracked.com/article_19228_6- ... rc=fanpage