Home > General Tips > Peer Pressure and Smoking Reasons
Posted on January 24, 2009 in General Tips
Smoking is a common habit as many people smoke to let off their tensions. They enjoy the burning of tobacco and get addicted to the nicotine contained in it. It is, of course, not considered to be a good habit as smoking affects health adversely. Even teenagers have begun smoking at an early age.
How Peer Pressure Affects Smoking?
Smokers smoke for various reasons, but often peer pressure makes them smoke. Teenagers begin smoking as they feel it is the “in-thing” to do so.
- Friends -A friend normally introduces himself or herself to smoking and they try it out for the “heck of it” and eventually get addicted to it. In a social gathering of smokers, a person may feel left out if he or she is not smoking. He or she wants to feel part of the group. To identify and feel accepted by others, they start smoking. Friends play a major role in smoking. Often it is a friend who ridicules and makes fun of the other person for not smoking. Also he or she would like the other person to try it out and see how it feels. Since he or she is enjoying, smoking would obviously be enjoyable to others.
- Parents also play a major role in the smoking habit of children. Teenagers see their parents smoke and pick up the habit from them. They feel if parents can smoke they can also. Parents, of course, find it difficult to refrain their children from smoking as they themselves are into the habit.
- Media – Children watch television or films and see their favorite hero or heroine smoke. They also feel like doing so. The urge to be like their hero or heroine is strong and whatever he or she does they also must do so.
- Advertisements – Advertisements often display pictures which could encourage smoking among teenagers. They portray smoking as an enjoyable act and teenagers would obviously like to experiment with the habit. Of course, now respective governments of various countries are not permitting such advertisements.
- Social Pressure – A person feels left out if he or she does not smoke. They feel inadequate and feel something is wrong with them as they are not doing what so many people are doing. Social values at times may also favor smoking.
People smoke irrespective of it being banned in public places in some countries. The urge to relax and enjoy the fag is very strong and many others, who otherwise do not smoke also, give into the habit.
» Filed Under General Tips
Comments
Leave a Reply