Smoking

Cigarettes are one of the most heavily advertised products. Many cigarette advertisements take place in gorgeous and fun locations. To get closer to these exciting locations, teenagers might feel the need to purchase that product. In a survey I took, 85% of the people who did smoke had picked a cigarette brand that is often advertised. Advertisements may not directly influence their decision to smoke. Yet, when they do eventually decide to smoke they chose one of the most advertised brands. .
             Two primary causes of why people start to smoke cigarettes are because they use the "everyone is doing it" philosophy and they want their own independence. People are desperately trying to fit in and be cool. They think that they are invincible and they cannot become addicted to cigarettes. For this reason, people whom are usually young teens decide to join the smoking crowd. It is much easier to give in to peer pressure when they are at an age where they are not sure what they want. They start smoking since they think it finds the meaning of independence. One of the main developmental tasks of adolescences is to assert independence from one's parents by creating their own identity. In a testimonial I received, a smoker told me the reason he started was because he wanted to fit in and did not want to be left out since he thought they would look down on him. Most young teens are not concerned with the long-term effects of what smoking will do to them and they will continue to do it. .
             Among some reasons of why people continue to smoke, a particular factor is the fear of gaining weight especially among young teenage girls. Fear of gaining weight makes people want to keep on smoking since they do not want to gain weight. It is a proven fact that smoking cigarettes diminishes appetite and it is more of a psychological problem. I asked a group of 5 girls who are all smokers and 3 of them said one of the reasons they continue to smoke is they do not want to gain weight.