Disapproval curbs smoking
“In 2008, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries in Europe to make it mandatory for cigarette packets sold within the U.K. to display fear-provoking, graphic anti-smoking images, founded on the assumption that the use of fear is an effective method to encourage smokers to quit,” says Scitechdaily.com. “However, in contrast to the assumed effects of fear on quitting intentions, a series of experiments conducted by [psychologists at Canterbury Christ Church University] consistently revealed that fear provoked by graphic images had no effect on smokers’ intentions to stop smoking. Instead, the researchers found that smokers were more willing to consider quitting if they accepted non-smokers’ negative attitudes toward their habit.”
Relax to fight temptation
“If you are trying to avoid temptation, stop fighting it and just relax,” says Psych Central. “In a new study, researchers from the University of Illinois found that people who are ‘actively’ motivated to change bad habits may actually be setting themselves up for not only failure but to act impulsively. But those who used ‘inaction’ words, such as ‘stop’ or ‘pause,’ are more relaxed and, ultimately, more successful. ‘Our research suggests that the relaxed state is better at inhibiting the pull of temptations,’ said University of Illinois psychology professor Dr. Dolores Albarracin.”
