Negative social cues on tobacco packaging may help smokers quit

Toronto

Tobacco packaging designed to remind people that the society disapproves of smoking can trigger feelings of self-consciousness, and help smokers kick the butt.

The approach was particularly effective in 'isolated' smokers who did not see smoking as identity-relevant or congruent with their social self, according to the research published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs.

"Tobacco denormalisation strategies such as workplace and social setting bans have used social pressure as a means of discouraging smoking," said Jennifer Jeffrey of Western University in Canada.

"Our early research suggests that tobacco packaging itself may be another tool by which to exert similar pressure, especially in those smokers already sensitive to smoking stigma," said Jeffrey.

The study involved an online experiment with a panel of 156 American adult smokers, who were randomly assigned to view one of two tobacco packages, which included the same tagline — "This is how people look at smokers" — but portrayed different images.

Packages featured black and white photographs of the same individuals either displaying neutral or disgusted expressions. — PTI