Introduction
The fact that smoking cigarettes are a harmful practice is not a secret. This factor can be seen through the worldwide anti-tobacco propaganda which moderate results can be shown through the decline of smokers and what is most important through the changes in the perception that smoking is fashionable. Nevertheless, the number of smokers is still very high comprising almost 30% of the adult population. Regarding the harmful effects, it can be said that the psychological addiction to cigarettes is no less harmful and influential than the physiological. This paper analyzes smoking behavior as a psychological aspect based on observations of individuals practicing smoking for several years.
Overview
Millions of people smoke every day, which makes the definition of smoking cigarettes an easy task in terms of the visual process. Smoking is the procedure where people inhale dry, ground, wrapped, and burned tobacco leaves regularly. The procedure of smoking a single cigarette takes approximately 2-4 minutes, where the observed smokers smoke approximately 15-25 cigarettes a day. The physiological aspect that influences smokers and is perceived as the immediate effect of smoking can be summarized as follows:
Within ten seconds of the first inhalation, nicotine, a potent alkaloid, passes into the bloodstream, transits the barrier that protects the brain from most impurities, and begins to act on brain cells. Nicotine molecules fit like keys into the “nicotinic” receptors on the surface of the brain’s neurons. Nicotine fits the same “keyholes” as one of the brain’s most important neurotransmitters (signal chemicals), acetylcholine, which results in a rush of stimulation and an increase in the flow of blood to the brain. (“Physiology and Psychology of Smoking,” 2004)
Preceding conditions
Observing smokers can lead to a list of several common conditions that precede smoking as a behavior. These conditions whether for a regular smoker or first-time smokers can be seen in the following:
- The feel of stress or anxiety.
- Imitation- includes friends, family members, celebrities, etc. (Key, 2009)
- A habit of breaking from a routine by creating pauses and breaks.
- The need to establish closer relationships with another smoker.
- Escaping a problem.
Consequences
The conditions that follow smoking can be very short, where “After ten puffs have flowed through the lungs, the smoker feels energized and clearheaded, but this is partly because this was a period which ended a nicotine deprivation, and another is about to happen.” (“Physiology and Psychology of Smoking,” 2004) In about thirty minutes, the effect of nicotine is reduced, after which they need for another cigarette occurs. This cycle can be repeated throughout the day.
Psychological analysis
Analyzing the process of smoking, it can be said that smokers escape reality with such practice. Smoking acts as a buffer zone between smokers and the events that surround them. Aside from the physiological need, smokers create a particular psychological habit, where smokers associate specific states of mind with smoking and the belief that certain conditions cannot be relieved without a cigarette creating a psychological addiction. (“Psychological Effects of Smoking,” 2009) Another factor, specific for beginner smokers, can be seen through associating certain attributes of role models to smoking, wherein such way smokers believe that imitating them will help them gain such attributes.
Conclusion
It can be seen through the aforementioned that smoking is as much a psychological behavior as it is physiological. Despite the differences in motives for smoking, the consequent addiction is mostly similar for all smokers. A part of the psychological motives for starting smoking is related to media influence. Accordingly, it can be stated that media has an ethical responsibility to promote a healthy lifestyle. In that regard, as psychological conditions that lead to smoking can be related to media, the same psychological conditions can be utilized to help people quit that harmful habit.
References
Key, G. (2009). Psychology Of Smoking. Web.
Physiology and Psychology of Smoking. (2004). Web.
Psychological Effects of Smoking. (2009). Web.