How To Quit Smoking

Based on a study released in 1997, motivations to quit smoking varies by age and sex.

The motivation to act, are classified into intrinsic motivations and extrinsic motivations.

Intrinsic motivations are factors within that motivate someone to act.  This could include feeling good about yourself, concerns about your own health, to challenge yourself etc.

Extrinsic motivations are factors outside of the person that motivates them to act.  This could include social pressue or influence, rewards and penalties.

Understanding what motivates a person to act is very important because that person can then understand what's required to get them to take action.

In this 1997 study, the researchers took two sample populations.  Those who volunteered to try and quit smoking and a standard population base of people, who did not volunteer to quit smoking.  The research shows that the population based sample of smokers would be more motivated by extrinsic factors to quit.  This includes the now very public pressure to quit, and factors such as costs.  Volunteers had both intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for wanting to quit.  This makes sense, smokers who don't volunteer to quit (but are clearly aware of the risk to the risk to their health) will be more influenced by outside factors.

Within the volunteer sample, other interesting findings include:

Men were more concerned with their health (intrinsic) and social influence (extrinsic) than woman.
Woman were more concerned about self-control (intrinsic) and immediate reinforcement (extrinsic) than men.

Smokers over the age of 55 were less concerned about their health and being immediately reinforced than smokers under the age of 55.  But they were more concerned about having self control and social influences.

Quitting smoking is an activity that many people commit to as a new years resolution.  It can also be one of the most difficult.  Your challenge is to try and quit smoking.  Use the information armed above, to understand what motivates you and use that as much as possible to quit.

Write a tryary about your journey to quit smoking.  Include whether you have set a timeline, your strategy, products your using, high points and low points.

Need some products to help you quit?  Here are some ideas:

Quit Smoking