Habit modification through threatened loss of money

Fingernail Biting

“…Self-monitoring and nail measurement afforded subjects more direct and consistent opportunities to focus attention upon their biting and nail length, whereas the minimal contact treatment provided few such opportunities. Adesso et al believed that this finding might simply indicate that inadequate incentives were employed, but noted that the results for the comparisons between basic self-monitoring and incentive conditions were consistent with those of other workers (e.g., Horan et al, 1974;Stephen and Koenig, 1970). 153] They found "no differential effectiveness" when comparing "the basic self-monitoring technique to each of the incentive conditions" (p. 153).…”

“…Reference was made to the significance of the nailbiting problem by Stephen and Koenig (1970), who stated: "Many young adults define 1 2 FINGERNAIL BITING severe nail-biting as a significant problem for them in tenns of both physical discomfort and as a socially offensive trait" (p. 211). Azrin and Nunn (1977) examined and described the special importance of fingernail biting behavior from the perspective of the in-dividua1.…”

“…In relation to a movement pattern becoming automatic, Sage (1977) stated: "As the movement pattern becomes automatic, conscious introspection about the component parts of the pattern during this phase of learning often results in the so-called paralysis from analysis phenomenon" (p. 372). Stephen and Koenig (1970) maintained that while many hypotheses have been formulated concerning the etiology and maintenance of nailbiting, systematic treatment of this habit has rarely been investigated. This so-called paralysis from analysis phenomenon may in fact provide a plausible theoretical background for the awareness training component of many treatment procedures for nailbiting.…”

“…The effect of a threatened loss of money on nailbiting behavior was investigated by Stephen and Koenig (1970). The 18 female and 2 male subjects involved in the 5-week study were volunteer nailbiters ranging in age from 18 to 41 years who replied to an advertisement in the university newspaper.…”

Tic Disorders, Trichotillomania, and Other Repetitive Behavior Disorders

“…In a case study with an adult female client, Ross (1974) reported elimination of nail biting that was maintained at 6-month follow-up through the use of a response cost procedure in which the patient agreed to contribute money to a disliked organization for failure to increase nail length. Both Stephen and Koenig (1970) and Adesso et al (1979) conducted controlled studies that found response cost (threatened loss of money or credits) equally effective to other treatments in the reduction of nail biting.…”