Self-Stigma: When the Smoker Internalizes the Judgment—and What It Does to Them
Smokers don't just experience stigma from others. They internalize it—believing they are weak, irresponsible, and morally deficient. Self-stigma is a stronger predictor of failed quit attempts than nicotine dependence severity.
The smoker who believes they are weak, irresponsible, and morally deficient—who has internalized the public health messaging that equates smoking with personal failure—is less likely to quit than the smoker with the same level of nicotine dependence who does not internalize this judgment. **Self-stigma erodes self-efficacy—the belief that you are capable of change. And self-efficacy is one of the strongest predictors of cessation success. The anti-smoking campaign that shames smokers may, perversely, make them less able to quit.**
