Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2012
Poster Presentation
Let Them Grow!
Erin Graham
Faculty Mentor: Mary Jensen
Special Education
This project is to show how to difficult it is change a person’s behavior pattern. In this
case I worked very hard to change my own behavior of nail biting. My goal was to have
my nails grow long enough to have my white tips to be visible. I created a daily chart to
mark down whether I had bit my nails that day. I marked down in the charts for a total of
twelve weeks. Marking down my behaviors made it easier for to realize if my behavior
patterns were changing or not. In the beginning of this process I found it very difficult to
catch myself biting my nails and to keep my hands away from my mouth. As time went
on I found that it became easier to let my nails grow out and stop biting my nails. I
found that it is very difficult to change a behavior that has become a habit and a routine
in my life. As of now my nails have grown long enough to show white tips. I have
completely stopped biting my nails and I am very proud of myself. Twelve weeks was a
perfect amount of time for this behavior changing process. There was no added time
that was needed and the behavior to stop biting my nails was diminished within the first
five to six weeks. Although it is still a struggle everyday, I have gotten much better at
stopping myself in order to change my behavior pattern.