In conformity with a recently-emerged study, health warnings related to health complications and death could make people want to keep puffing in order to get used with the perspective.
Warnings on cigarette packs related to the lethal consequences of smoking can work in the opposite way and encourage smokers to continue their habit, the research has concluded.
Decease is such a shocking perspective that many smokers consider consoling cigarttes is the only help in coping with stress.
Such effect is explained from a scientific point of view by a theory named Terror Management that confirms that some humans become hugely anxious by the idea of untimely death that they permanently need to enhance their self-respect to overcome stress.
Those people who boost their confidence by lighting up – thinking that it makes them attractive or fashionable – will need to light up even more frequently to comfort their fears.
The answer to that problem, in conformity with the research carried out by the scientists from Swiss and US universities, is messages stating that puffing makes smokers unattractive and dull.
During the research, the scientists surveyed 40 students between 17 and 40 years who previously had admitted to be smokers, and found that slogans related to changes in the appearance were an efficient motive to give up.
The research showed that if smokers are shown strong anti-smoking slogans on the packs warning them about probable fatality, they develop effective techniques for overcoming the stress, what is reflected in their need to keep smoking, and even light up more cigarettes than they are used to.
Scientists concluded that public health officials should create alternate warnings to influence on younger smokers, as they could be adversely influenced by death-related slogans.
Students who took part in the research had to answer certain questions of the survey, concerning the relation between their smoking habit and self-worth.
After the completion of initial survey the participants were divided into two groups and shown various anti-smoking messages on cigarette packs.
Then, they were given additional questions to determine whether the message they have seen affected their attitude to smoking and made them want to give up.
The participants, who have seen death-related messages, have not been affected by them, and even admitted that the warnings triggered a more positive attitude towards smoking.
At the same time, the warnings related to the loss of attractiveness effectively decreased the number of participants who wanted to keep smoking.
The psychologists said that such reactions can be explained by the fact that many smokers, especially younger ones, take up cigarettes to enhance their self-respect and confidence. Therefore, the risk of becoming unattractive shocked them and made them think about giving up.