Popularity of Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking has existed in the popular mainstream culture for decades. Fifty years ago most people were not aware of the deleterious effects of smoking because the media popularized portrayals of male smokers as “the Marlboro man,” or marketed thinner cigarettes with more feminine names to female smokers. Over the past several decades, however, warning labels have appeared on all cigarette packages and more consumer information has increased the public’s awareness of smoking’s negative effects. Despite all the warnings and research findings, however, many people still purchase and smoke cigarettes.

After reading the December 2011 American Psychological Association Monitor article, “New Labels, New Attitudes?,” consider the question(s) below. Then “submit” your response.

Question 1

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved how many new cigarette warning labels in 2011?

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B.
C.
D.

Question 2

Which country was the first to introduce large graphic warning labels on cigarette packages, in 2001?

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B.
C.
D.

Question 3

According to the ITC survey what percentage of individuals try to cover up the warning labels so they can continue to smoke?

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B.
C.
D.

Question 4

What were the results of the Health Psychology study on smoking, in 2009?

What were the results of the Health Psychology study on smoking, in 2009?
One possible answer might be what happened when the researcher showed both scary and non-scary smoking-related images to smokers and nonsmokers. Researchers found that smokers had less activity in attention-related brain areas when they were switched from looking at identified scary images to target images, suggesting that smokers may ignore the scary warning labels on cigarette packages. The result is that the warnings become less effective for smokers because they may react defensively and discount the warning.

Question 5

What happened in Thailand in 2006 when the new labels were introduced?

One possible answer might be what happened when Thailand moved from text-only warnings to large graphic warnings in 2006. Individuals reported thinking more about the health risks of smoking and quitting smoking in general following the changes.