Behavioral self-control and smoking reduction: A study of self-initiated attempts to reduce smoking

Self-initiated attempts to reduce smoking are common experiences that have received little attention from researchers. Through a structured interview procedure, this investigation sought to determine which factors and methods, especially behavioral self-control methods, are critical to successfully self-reduced smoking. Forty-eight college students (24 "successful" and 24 "unsuccessful") were interviewed about their attempts to self-control smoking. The results indicate that successful smoking reducers (1) used more techniques for longer periods of time and (2) used self-reinforcement and problem-solving procedures more frequently than did unsuccessful smoking reducers.