A “new” report has surfaced, warning people that watching movie characters who smoke will increase your chances of smoking. The New Scientist comes up with this study:
Previous studies have shown that watching screen smoking activates parts of the brain involved in craving and reward, but the new research is the first to show that priming for the physical act of lighting up becomes automatic too.
It’s an interesting bit of research having people watch the film ‘Matchstick Men’ and noting that the people light up a bit more than those who didn’t watch the film. (I dare them to show ‘Thank You For Smoking’- will that film’s ending help them quit?) But…isn’t that like saying watching characters who drink makes you want to grab a brew or two characters who have sex make you want to have sex? Or watching an action film with explosions and a car chase? Blow anything up, run anyone over recently after the theater?
And what about cigarette taxes? Is that a deterrent? Smoke free buildings/areas? Isn’t that a deterrent? I remember some commercials way back when when a lion snapped the cigarette from the tamer; most of us know of the “demonstrators” outside of the “tobacco companies” commercials that show up as PSAs on our DVDs, especially on those films which show characters puffing away. I don’t mind them. Hopefully they can (still) help someone.
All I know is. I (and many other people) have seen a lot of films, even classic films where characters have a smoke or two. I know the dangers of smoking and choose not to smoke.
What’s your view?
