Nagging

Nagging is a form of pestering, or otherwise reminding an individual of previously discussed dictates or advice, usually from a perspective of superiority. The word is derived from the Scandinavian nagga, which means "to gnaw".^[1]

Social nagging

Psychotherapists such as Edward S. Dean have reported that individuals who nag are often "weak, insecure, and fearful ... their nagging disguises a basic feeling of weakness and provides an illusion of power and superiority".^[1] Nagging is sometimes used by spouses of alcoholics as one of several "drinking control efforts",^[2] but it is often unproductive.^[3] Psychologically, nagging can act to reinforce behavior.^[3] It was found in a study by the University of Florida that the main factors that lead a person to nag are differences in "gender, social distance, and social status and power".^[4]

Nagging can be found between both male and female spouses, though usually over different subjects. The husbands' nagging usually involves them finding "fault with their dinner, with the household bills, with the children, and with everything else", along with them "carry[ing] home the worries of business."^[5]

Parental and child nagging

In terms of parental nagging of children, a study at Washington State University in 1959 stated that this nagging was a "symptom of the rejection of the child" because of the way that children interfere with the parents' "individual needs and aspirations" with their requirements of "time and energy".^[6]

See also

• Hypercriticism
• Monomania
• Obsession
• Persecution
• Shrew (archetype)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dean, Edward S. (1964–5), "A Psychotherapeutic Investigation of Nagging (subscription required)", Psychoanalytic Review (51D): 15–21, http://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=PSAR.051D.0015A 
2. ^ Yoshioka, Marianne R.; Thomas, Edwin J.; Ager, Richard D. (1992), "Nagging and other drinking control efforts of spouses of uncooperative alcohol abusers: Assessment and modification", Journal of Substance Abuse 4 (3): 309–318, doi:10.1016/0899-3289(92)90038-Y, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W5J-4C7WH95-10&_user=10&_coverDate=12/31/1992&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1585027571&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=241935cd4ca405bbfad87c424d66fd90&searchtype=a 
3. ^ ^{a b} Meyers, Robert J.; Wolfe, Brenda L (2003), Get your loved one sober: alternatives to nagging, pleading, and threatening, Hazelden Publishing, ISBN 1592850812 
4. ^ Boxer, Diana (2002), "Nagging: The familial conflict arena (subscription required)", Journal of Pragmatics (Elsevier) 34 (1): 49–61, doi:10.1016/S0378-2166(01)00022-4, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VCW-45YCP7X-4&_user=10&_coverDate=01/31/2002&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1c3872495fa4a16f8f395269538695a1&searchtype=a, retrieved December 20, 2010 
5. ^ "The Nagging Man". Good Housekeeping (Hearst Corporation) 26: 164. 1897. http://books.google.com/books?id=jcGz-UVJgUAC&pg=PA164&dq=%22nagging%22&hl=en&ei=T84PTbHrLYmqsAPehYGxAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22nagging%22&f=false. Retrieved December 20, 2010. 
6. ^ Ellis, David; Ivan Nyet, F. Ivan (1959), "The Nagging Parent (subscription required)", The Family Life Coordinator: 8, http://www.jstor.org/pss/581432, retrieved December 20, 2010 

Further reading

• Concerning nagging women
• Segal, Julia; John Simkins (1996). Helping children with ill or disabled parents: a guide for parents and professionals. Readers Digest. pp. 93–94. http://books.google.com/books?id=Bl336y9vcE0C&pg=PA94&dq=%22nagging%22&hl=en&ei=KuUPTcKCCpC4sAOK6oGxAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBjge#v=onepage&q=%22nagging%22&f=false. Retrieved December 20, 2010.