Smoking: Messages On Cigarette Packs May Be Counterproductive

Mother Jones:

In June, President Obama signed a law requiring tobacco companies to post large, graphic warnings on cigarette packs. However, new research suggests that, for a certain set of smokers, those allusions to death may actually increase the likelihood they'll light up.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[StThomas]

In Britain it's even more graphic- I saw a picture of a young man's fungating laryngeal cancer on a packet of Benson and Hedges recently. I stopped back when the worst thing you saw was "smoking while pregnant may harm your baby"

[BrainDart]

This makes sense to me.
People are motivated by how a behavior makes them feel about themselves -- NOW, as opposed to 'abstract' future consequences.

Richard Levine
http://thedoublemessage.com/

[freethinking moderate]

I cannot help but wonder what self-righteous crusade will be created after tobacco. I'm betting on sugary sodas as the next self-righteous crusade. It is good that we are rich enough to condem others and dictate the lives of people deemed inferior due to their lifestlye choices. I don't smoke and I, and actual smokers, are quite well aware of the history of tobacco and tobacco companies.

We all die. Those of you so frigtened of it, and worse yet of living itself, have no right to interfere with the life choices of others you deem as unrighteous. of course, you wallow in the orgy of power to do so, but oh the irony when the come comes whe nthe zealots come for your particular "sin".

[JamieNYC]

Smoking warning labels comment post

Oddly enough, there's a scientific theory on the behavior of humans that strongly supports this article's claim – but the full-length article goes on without acknowledging the theory, instead focusing more on an individual’s willingness to cling to a habit, just touching on the concept of what self-esteem is really all about.

Here’s the part they fail to mention: the notion that someone can do something dangerous and survive it provides the powerful perception for that individual to believe they are superior to their peers, and also affects their peers [and potential mates] to think that the fearless individual possesses dominant traits. Socially, this makes for good competition in regards to sexual selection. Only the fittest survive because they can attract the best mates.

The article ignores the sexual selection theory, which is a shame, because the smoking industry knows how to exploit it very well with their time-tested, fine-tuned advertising. The Pulitzer Prize winning author and scientist Jared Diamond discusses this behavioral trait in his book The Third Chimpanzee.

[AverageJill]

How about:

"Second hand smoke is dangerous to children" (Maryland has passed a law making it illegal to smoke in your car while a child is inside.)

"The smell of tobacco smoke is repulsive to people who have never smoked."

"The smell of tobacco smoke can cause an asthma attack for someone in the same room as you." (I know it's rude, but I spray Fabreze in public areas if I feel my chest tightening up from the smell of smoke.)

"Smoking tobacco has been shown to thicken skin and deepen wrinkles."

"Second hand smoke can give others cancer." http://www.theindychannel.com/health/7777367/detail.html

[lmvd3]

I'd like to know who funded the psychological study--Big Tobacco???

[alieninvader]

I've always thought that appealing to vanity is the best way to curb smoking. Show before and after pictures of people after they've been smoking for 20 years. That should do it.