Hair Pulling In Ancient Literature - Part 4: Aristotle

Aristotle is a central figure in Western thought whose writings have shaped scientific and philosophical of our culture.  Interestingly, heo contributed to zoology in A History of Animals.  In it he focuses on hair and also hair plucking.  In the following passage Aristotle describes hair pulling and hair root extraction in a way that reveals he is talking from direct experience.

Hairs if plucked out before maturity grow again; but they do not grow again if plucked out afterwards. Every hair is supplied with a mucous

moisture at its root, and immediately after being plucked out it can lift light articles if it touch them with this mucous.

(Book 3, Part 11)

The final comment about the mucous moistness of lipid fat hair roots is something that many hair pullers would instantly recognise and is one of the most fascinating aspects of hair pulling to my mind.  Hair pullers develop a very intimate relationship with hair roots, which they explore orally.  Licking, sucking, tooth combing and eating roots is a central component of the hair pulling sequence and one that is often not mentioned very much because doctors focus more on hair extraction itself and its consequences, i.e. bald patches.  The white root, which Aristotle describes as have 'mucous moisture' is something of an edible delicacy to people with trichotillomania and the moist white lipid fat greedily consumed.  

Why is the lipid fat eaten and prized by hair pullers?  No one seems to know.  All we know is that the eating aspect forms an integral part of the cycle or sequence the behaviour.  Some psychologists have offered a symbolic interpretation - that the root represents the mother's breast.  But there is no way to verify this.  All we know is that the root offers comfort and also provides the appetitive reward that ensures the hair pulling cycle is endlessly repeated.  

All behaviours need a pay-off - appetitive or sexual - if they are to continue.  Maybe the hair root provides it.  Aristotle captures well the moist attraction of hair roots.