Premeditated automaticity: the role of explicit cognition in the development of obsessive smoking

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of explicit cognitions in relation to the development of obsessive smoking passion. Data derives from a longitudinal internet survey conducted among 939 daily smokers over a period of four months. Mental representations were the strongest predictor of obsessive smoking passion (ß=.47, p<.001) followed by habit strength (ß=.25, p<.001) and number of cigarettes smoked (ß=.09, p<.01). Altogether the variables accounted for 48% of the variance in obsessive smoking passion. The results indicated that mental representations, along with automatic processes, play an important role in the prediction of obsessive smoking passion. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Smoking ,

Obsessive Passion ,

Mental Representations ,

Habit ,