Psychologic Aspects of Cigarette Smoking in Men

A Clinical Evaluation

Bibliographic Data

ID19302829
AuthorsMartin Jacobs (Boston University), Martin A Jacobs, Peter H Knapp (Boston University), Stuart Rosenthal (Boston University), David Haskell (Boston University)
Year1970
Volume32
Issue5
Pages469-486
Publication date1970-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/00006842-197009000-00005
PMID5474388
OpenAlexW2324280188
LanguageEN
Citations received9

Heavy cigarette smoking in men is theorized to be associated with an oralimpulsive personality constellation. Clinical interviews with 130 subjects, representing non-, former, mild and heavy smokers, supported previous questionnaire findings that the latter group is characterized by features of: defiance, impulsiveness, danger-seeking, neurotic emotional lability and oral preoccupation. In this sample, heavy smokers' relationships with their fathers were more disturbed than were the other groups' paternal relationships. Intensive follow-up interviews with a small selection of subjects indicated factors associated with starting and stopping smoking and an alternate personality pattern in heavy smokers previously seen as false negatives on the questionnaires. This subsample handled underlying oral conflict with traits of obsessiveness, guardedness and cautiousness. Former smokers seem able to discontinue the habit when personally meaningful, positive events occur and/or when their health is actually threatened. Both life events and factors of personal resourcefulness are relevant in understanding why some men can give up the habit and others cannot

Cigarette smoking · Clinical Psychology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation