Ulterior Motives

How goals, both seen and unseen, drive behavior

Art Markman is a cognitive scientist at the University of Texas whose research spans a range of topics in the way people think. See full bio

June 30, 2008, Addiction

Comments on "No Thanks, I Need to Smoke"

No Thanks, I Need to Smoke

By Art Markman, Ph.D. on June 30, 2008 in Ulterior Motives

If you take even a quick look at the newspaper, you can see that there are massive public policy efforts aimed to curb smoking. States are raising their cigarette taxes. Cities around the world are banning smoking in restaurants. Even Holland (where it seems like almost every vice is legal) will no longer allow cigarette smoking in restaurants and public places. What makes it so hard to quit smoking?

Great subject and very Interesting article...

Submitted by Aaron Dutil, M.A. NCC on July 1, 2008 - 6:35am.

...I would like to see more of this type of cognitive research referenced in regards to substance abuse and relapse. People who struggle with the issue of addiction have a hard time with creating value around their new goal of long term sobriety. I believe this one of the reasons why twelev step programs are so successful becuase they do create 'valuation' in regards to the new goal of sobriety.