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Overview
This book presents a counter-view, based on a survey of several thousand young persons and adults, probing attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and perceptions of risk associated with smoking. The authors agree that young smokers give little or no thought to health risks or the problems of addiction. The survey data contradicts the model of informed, rational choice and underscores the need for aggressive policies to counter tobacco firms’ marketing and promotional efforts and to restrict youth access to tobacco.
Editorials
From The Critics
The basis for this study are two extensive telephone surveys (designed by Slovic and the other contributors to this volume) that were conducted between 1999- 2000, recording the responses of over 4000 people. The chapters consider the methodology of the surveys; risk perceptions of the participants, who are categorized according to age; the role of affective feelings in determining risk perceptions; the theoretical framework concerning the role of affect in determining judgment and decisions; the case of intuitive affect-based thinking; and legal and policy implications. Slovic, who teaches psychology at the U. of Oregon in Eugene, is a specialist in risk analysis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Booknews
Scholars in communication, medicine, law, education, economics, psychology, public policy, and human ecology attack the tobacco industry's claim that beginning smokers understand the risks. Twelve papers expose the ways cigarette ads trick young people by downplaying the dangers of tobacco use. Contributors discuss the risks of smoking, smokers' later regrets, the nature of addiction, the influence of advertising, and smokers' beliefs in their own immunity. Chapters focus on adolescents' and adults' perceptions of risk, media influence, addiction, and legal and policy matters. Appendixes feature surveys of youth perception of tobacco risk, and casual modeling methodology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Cheryl Healton
" This important book reveals why the young start smoking and why, as adults, they regret having started. It is a great contribution to helping end a national epidemic."Matthew Myers
"This book is a must for everyone concerned about how to address the problem of tobacco use among young people. Virtually all new smokers are children. Many of them are in their early teens and one out of every three children who begin to smoke will die prematurely because of their use of tobacco. This book includes the most objective, thorough and authoritative research to date on the critical question about whether young people fully understand the consequences of their decision to smoke at the time they start and whether they are able to make rational decisions about this vitally important decision. It leaves the reader with no doubt about the value of efforts to better educate our young people and to empower them to resist the lure of tobacco marketing."Diana Hackbarth
". . . Clearly written, well documented, provocative . . . incorporates theory from the fields of psychology, economics, advertising, and communication to challenge popular beliefs about the nature of addiction."CHERYL HEALTON
" This important book reveals why the young start smoking and why, as adults, they regret having started. It is a great contribution to helping end a national epidemic."
MATTHEW MYERS
"This book is a must for everyone concerned about how to address the problem of tobacco use among young people. Virtually all new smokers are children. Many of them are in their early teens and one out of every three children who begin to smoke will die prematurely because of their use of tobacco. This book includes the most objective, thorough and authoritative research to date on the critical question about whether young people fully understand the consequences of their decision to smoke at the time they start and whether they are able to make rational decisions about this vitally important decision. It leaves the reader with no doubt about the value of efforts to better educate our young people and to empower them to resist the lure of tobacco marketing."