Fucked Up College Kids File 454

eZine lover (@eZine)

Published in 

Fucked Up College Kids

 · 5 years ago

  

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=   F.U.C.K. - Fucked Up College Kids - Born Jan. 24th, 1993 - F.U.C.K.   = 
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                        The Symbolic Nipple 
                        ------------------- 

	Every year governments all over the world spend hundreds of millions 
of dollars on anti-smoking campaigns in an effort to convince people of the 
fact that smoking is a major health hazard.  In these campaigns they usually 
show the black stained lungs or the gruesome tumors of heavy smokers.  And 
still, in spite of the aggressive approach, an incredible number of people 
are inhaling the carcinogens contained by tobacco day after day.  At first 
one could say that ignorance of the hazards contributed to the large tobacco 
consumption, but nowadays every smoker or non-smoker knows how dangerous 
smoking is.  So one might ask: "Why are millions of people putting their 
health at stake for such a stupid habit?" Opinions diverge on this matter. 
Some people think nicotine is the one responsible, but the poor result of 
nicotine Band-Aids proves that we have to look elsewhere.  The psychological 
addiction seems the most obvious, but what exactly is the psychological 
process behind this habit? 
	Again various hypotheses exist, but one in particular stands out. 
It's the explanation put forth by Desmond Morris, a famous British 
anthropologist.  In his book Intimate Behaviour he says about cigarettes: 

"...having something between the lips is a comforting experience for the  
human animal, since it spells reassuring contact with the primary  
protector, the mother.(...)The object [cigarette] feels soft between the 
lips and the smoke warms it, which makes it even more like the genuine  
mother's nipple than a rubber dummy.  Furthermore, the sensation of  
something being sucked out of the end of it and drawn down the throat  
adds to the illusion.  A new symbolic equation is set up: warm inhaled  
smoke equals mother's warm milk." (Morris 1971)  

        At first Morris' approach may seem a little far fetched, but if 
one starts thinking about it another conclusion might be reached.  Is it 
a coincidence that people usually smoke in stressful situations or at 
parties, where they could sure use a comforting and reassuring nibble at 
their mother's nipple?  Is it a coincidence that the actual smoke of a 
cigarette has very little biological effect, but that in practice it is 
often as soothing as a dummy for a crying infant?  In fact many more clues 
point to the correctness of Morris' theory and as Freudian and far fetched 
as it may seem, it deserves consideration.  It is a known fact that 
consuming lollipops and chewing gum are often good ways to keep yourself 
from smoking.  Again, is it a coincidence? 
	If more research is done into Morris' theory there is a good chance 
that substitutes of smoking will be found that are socially more acceptable 
than sucking a baby's dummy or a lollipop.  These new substitutes will 
incline more and more smokers to switch from their unhealthy habit to a 
soothing but harmless form.  If adolescents are made aware of the 
alternatives they will probably prefer the harmless form over the unhealthy 
smoking and in this way these new substitutes will even prevent people from 
starting to smoke. 
	The ineffectiveness of traditional campaigning has proved that a new 
approach is needed and it's clear that we must do more research in the 
psychology of smoking instead of going around slapping smokers' hands.  So, 
until there is a better alternative, every time you feel the need of a 
cigarette just take a lollipop from your pocket and nibble away! 

 
NtT 6(e-mail:zweistein@cryogen.com)   

Works cited:    Morris, Desmond  Intimate Behaviour. Random House, Inc., 
                New York. 1971. pg. 195. 

 
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