Cigarette smoking in social interaction

Studied behavior patterns by smokers and others in social interaction correlated with various behaviors comprising cigarette smoking. Field observation methods were used in observing 91 smokers in 117 social interaction settings. Settings were chosen to vary in degree of intimacy between participants in social interaction, and in degree of physical activity. Reliability of observations was established using independent field observers and raters of a videotape of one interaction. Findings generally were that smoking behaviors occur at points in the interaction when the smoker is relatively uninvolved and passive in the context of the social interaction. It is speculated that smoking is a form of self-involvement which is incompatible, on a momentary basis, with active social involvement.