Young and Proud Smokers Dig Smoking MORE when they see death warnings on the package

Ever wonder how smokers react to "Smoking Kills"? Well it depends on the smoker.

The British Psychological Society's research digest blog puts its spotlight yesterday on a study among student smokers. Those who find that derive some of their self-esteem from smoking and believe that it is cool react to these warnings differently as intended. Instead, they smoke more, "to buffer themselves against the depressing reminder of their own mortality".

Instead, authors recommend other warnings, such as, "Smoking makes you look unattractive" to reduce smoking among this group.

Finding and understanding your target group is essential for any behavioral public health intervention. Otherwise, you may be promoting the behavior you intended to discourage.

Photo: The Telegraph.

If you were a smoker, would this get you to quit?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a series of e-Cards where well-meaning friends and family can send not so subtle notes to push healthy behavior such as quitting smoking.

What if you were a smoker? Does a woman jumping in a field make you want to stop smoking? Perhaps not, but perhaps knowing (as the inside of the card says) that half of ALL adult smokers in the US have already quit may give you pause. If so many people have been able to quit, it is possible to successfully quit if you try.

Scores:

Picture: C. The Photo looks like an ad for a feminine product. Message: B- If people perceive that the norm is to quit, they are more likely to take serious steps to quitting.