Various theories are given by different people to explain the thumb sucking habit. These theories tries to explain the cause of the thumb sucking. The various theories are
Psychoanalytical or psychosexual theory:
This theory is given by S.Freud. According to this theory the habit of thumb sucking is there because of some underlying disturbance. Basically the habit of thumb sucking is to manage the stress. If without treating the cause we try o eliminate the habit it can be substituted by some other antisocial activity.
Oral drive theory:
This theory is given by Sears and Wise. According to this theory the thumb sucking is because of prolongation of nursing. Prolongation of nursing strengthens the oral drive and to satisfy that child starts with thumb sucking.
Learning theory
According to this theory habit of thumb sucking originates from the adaptive response. There is no psychological cause. This habit is acquired as the result of learning. The child relates the habit with some feeling e.g. when he is hungry he starts sucking is thumb or when e is bored e starts thumb sucking.
Johnson and Larson in 1993 also tried to explain the thumb sucking habit. They said that every child has the inherent sucking reflex. Environmental factors may contribute in making this a non nutritive habit like thumb sucking or digit sucking
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