BPS RESEARCH DIGEST: Morbid warnings on cigarette packs could encourage some people to smoke
This does not come as a surprise but still it is a nice confirmation of the already existing psychological theories. This research shows that in case smoking is important for identity and self-esteem of people, the warning about the dangers of smoking might have an opposite effect of the one that the regulatory body intended for it to have: instead of decreasing the desire/need to smoke, it would strengthen it. This research should be taken into account by EU and national regulators who enforce warnings about cancer risks to be put on cigarette packs.
This does not come as a surprise but still it is a nice confirmation of the already existing psychological theories. This research shows that in case smoking is important for identity and self-esteem of people, the warning about the dangers of smoking might have an opposite effect of the one that the regulatory body intended for it to have: instead of decreasing the desire/need to smoke, it would strengthen it. This research should be taken into account by EU and national regulators who enforce warnings about cancer risks to be put on cigarette packs.
