Why is this man smoking alone?
Of course, he can't read, but that is not the reason.
Smoking spreads via social circles, and stops via social circles.
Groups that smoke together, also quit together. Those that don't quit with the group, are slowly excluded -- pushed to the periphery of their network -- and end up smoking alone.
Here is the NY Times article on the social network dynamics of smoking and quiting published by the same folks that did the social network analysis of obesity. There is also this related article by the Associated Press.
Originally published May 22, 2008
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1 comments:
Since smoking was banned in public places here in the UK smokers have been consigned to designated smoking areas outside the bars, cafes and clubs. Essentially smokers now form a community of interest and act as weak links between social silos. While quitting may depend on social pressure, the remaining hardcore seem to be becoming more important within their social groups. I wonder whether this will reflect on their self-image and likelihood of quitting. I've got no evidence to support this - it's just idle observation - but it feels like an interesting social phenomenon!
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