Nagging, in interpersonal communication, is repetitious behaviour in the form of pestering, hectoring, harassing, or otherwise continuously urging an individual to complete previously discussed requests or act on advice.
[4]: 195–196 Martin Kozloff, Ph.D., Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, identifies four main steps of nagging: Kozloff argues that this interaction cycle continues until either the one who is being nagged complies to the nagger's request or the nagger gives up the attempt to persuade.
[5] Regarding compliance, behavioural noncompliance describes the situation that occurs when the person being nagged remains silent or agrees to complete the request, but later does not follow through.
This strategy is employed to end the confrontation or interaction quickly without conflict, which is why it is common among spouses or partners.
But women are more likely to nag, experts say, largely because they are conditioned to feel more responsible for managing home and family life.
"[11] An 1897 article in Good Housekeeping magazine stated that at that time, topics differed by gender; husbands' nagging usually involved finding "fault with their dinner, with the household bills [and] with the children", along with "carry[ing] home the worries of business.".
[14] During the Middle Ages, a scold's bridle, also called a brank, was an instrument of punishment used primarily on women.