From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-07-20 05:28:32 UTC
Subject: Re: ear sucking
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-id: <a06001a01bb3fd72e3fa3@[10.0.1.23]>
I realize that the propensity for behavioral signs of adrenal
neoplasia is already built in, but I wonder how much learned behavior
is involved in how the expression manifests. We haven't had
ear-suckers while other households have had multiple ones, but we've
had toe baby-ers and those seem to be rare in some other households.
It could just be coincidence, of course, but I have to wonder if
there may be some component of learning involved in how the
behavioral changes manifest themselves (just as a nervous human might
eat more or eat less, or eat different types or food, or scratch
skin, pull eyelashes, chew finger nails, exercise more, etc.
depending on how the person saw others cope with high levels of
tension earlier in life).