A study conducted by the University of Georgia shows that the middle school students who are exposed to anti-smoking ads are more likely to smoke. You may wonder, how is that possible? Well, it’s a fact that the youth have a rebellious nature and don’t want to hear what they should do or not do. Often, when sending them a “don’t do that” message, they will do it just to express their nature.
In 2002, an anti-smoking foundation found that the anti-smoking campaign of the tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris had reverse effects, it was making the students more likely to smoke.
From a psychological point of view, these results are predictable if we take into consideration their target (the teens). This is because their minds are very vulnerable to sublime psychological marketing.
These anti-smoking campaigns aren’t the only ones that have positive results for the sales of the big companies. Almost everything that’s labeled as being “prohibited” or not recommended for an age group has reverse psychological effects, it creates want. Even drug use may be enhanced by the anti-narcotic campaigns, because of the human psyche.
I want to know what your opinion about this. What kind of message or approach do you think would have the desired results in stopping the youth from smoking or consuming other dangerous or restricted products?
