Norms, attitudes and smoking behaviour amongst Manchester students

Abstract

THE MAIN assumption underlying this study is that people in a society behave in an orderly way and that once we know the essence of that order, much of people's behaviour is predictable. This predictability is based on the expecta tions that are built into social interaction as norms, which reflect the institution alized values of that society. If we know more mechanism of transmission and acquisition of norms, we may be able to intervene and influence this process. • THIS paper reports on the findings of a study on smoking habits, attitudes, knowledge and norms amongst students at the University of Manchester. It represents a part of a wider study into the problem area of cigarette smoking and the process of socialization, financed by the Health Education Council. The study represents an attempt to explore the possibilities of measuring norms and attitudes, finding out about their trans mission and acquisition and their ultimate effect on smoking.