Aversives

Denatonium, a very bitter chemical, is sometimes employed as an aversive substance in special nail polishes intended to reduce or discourage nail biting.

In psychology, aversives are unpleasant stimuli that induce changes in behavior via negative reinforcement or positive punishment. By applying an aversive immediately before or after a behavior, the likelihood of the target behavior occurring in the future may be reduced. Aversives can vary from being slightly unpleasant or irritating to physically, psychologically and/or emotionally damaging.

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