Fourth Summary 2007

Angel María Dávila
Level 6

Fourth Summary: Social Norms


According to Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie in the chapter “Social Norms and Acceptability of Tobacco Use” state that the habit of tobacco is a behavior acquired and mediated by the social environment where the tobacco users inhabit (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.71). In addition, it is affirmed that in many cases people begin using tobacco when they are very young because they associate tobacco consumption with a certain kind of social identity (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.71) and it is implied that this habit persists till adulthood (John Britton, ABC of Smoking Cessation, 2004, p.14). It is said that, continuously, this process is reinforced with repeated false information and messages from many contexts telling that tobacco use is normal, natural and acceptable as away of enjoying life or gaining individuality as well as social security (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.71). Therefore, it is reported that the influence that carries people to continue using tobacco products come from different sources: friends, peers, family, school, the place where people work, films, magazines, radio, television, electronic media, advertising, sports events and so forth (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.72). So, it is stated that the information received from the sources above mentioned modifies the behavior and tell people what they should do (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.72). This is affirmed by Carmen Daniels who says that persons who grow up in a smoking environment are twice as likely to smoke as those who live under a non-smoking environment (Carmen Daniels, a Cultural Approach to Addiction and Recovery for Aboriginal Youth, 2002, p.30). To conclude, Carmen Daniels says that when smokers want to quit, but if they are surrounded and interacting in smoking environments it is very hard to stop smoking and the result is to continue smoking (Carmen Daniels, a Cultural Approach to Addiction and Recovery for Aboriginal Youth, 2002, p.42).
































Critique
Angel Dávila

In this Chapter the authors’ purpose is to inform about the influence that the social environment has on people who become smokers (Barbara S. and Richard J. Bonnie Growing up Tobacco Free, 1994, p.71). Therefore, I agree with the authors when affirmed that the majority of people who smoke begin the tobacco habit when being very young and continue smoking till adulthood. They said that the reasons why many persons start smoking is because of the influence received from the social environment where they interact such as friends, school, family, television and so forth. But, however, I must say that I share just part of this viewpoint because there are a lot of people who interact in these environments and they do not become smokers. And this is my case, I have friends and family members who are smokers, I go to places where many people are tobacco users, and I see movies and other events where cigarette is promoted. But I have never tried a cigarette. After all, I accept that the repeated information and influence that we receive from many contexts can change the human behavior, but It is also true that as a human beings we are it is our responsibility every decision that we make to follow certain norms of behaving. That is to say, every decision taken is personally and bad habits are not mandatory. For instance, if I decide to smoke it is my own responsibility because I have to take into account the economic and health cost of the habit. Thus, I think that writers when documenting about a habit such as smoking can not assume a general idea as a true fact because what is true for me might be false for you.

Summary 3

Angel María Dávila.
YUELI level 6

Summary 3: Nicotine Addiction

According to the authors Lynn T. Kozlowski, Jack E. Henningfield and Janet Brigham in the chapter “Tobacco Use as Nicotine Addiction” state that the words “addict and addiction” have a common way to be interpreted by people. For instance, when people refers to certain kinds of persons such as television devotees, those who drinks too much liquor, people who eat too much chocolate, and those who bet obsessively, in those cases the term addiction is applied (Kozlowski, Henningfield and Brigham, p.77). Therefore the word addiction has not related just with drugs intake (Kozlowski, Henningfield and Brigham, p.77). However, in the 18th century the term addiction was used to illustrate the compulsive used of tobacco (Murray, Bradley, Craigre, and Onions, 1933). Moreover, it says that in 1964 was stated that habit of tobacco was “reinforced and perpetuated by the pharmacological actions of nicotine on the central nervous system” (USDHEW, 1964, p.354). In addition, it is implied that tobacco products without nicotine do not cause the same satisfaction in the body and that is why nicotine is a principal factor in controlling the way of behaving of tobacco users (USDHEW, 1964, p.354). In conclusion, it is affirmed that all tobacco forms are addicting because of nicotine (USDHHS, 1988). And nicotine addiction is currently considered as a major factor why smokers can not quit smoking (Kozlowski, Henningfield and Brigham, p.92).




Reference
Lynn T. Kozlowski, Jack E. Henningfield and Janet Brigham (2001).Cigarettes, Nicotine & Health, A behavioral Approach.
Critique
In this chapter the authors objective is to inform about how nicotine becomes addict to those who use products such as cigarettes or any form of tobacco (USDHHS, 1988). As well as they state the common use of the terms “addict and addiction” when referring to popular things and drugs (Kozlowski, Henningfield and Brigham, p.77). Moreover they support their arguments with citations of others who have been studying the same topic. All what is said in the chapter is logical, clear and they do not state any fallacy ideas. The chapter is intended to those who want to strengthen their knowledge about nicotine addiction. I conclude saying that the authors are experts in writing because they give sufficient evidence about the topic and they support their statements as well.


Angel Dávila.
Level 6
YUELI

Summary 1 YUELI

Angel María Dávila.
YUELI level 6
Summary: Smoking


According to Glassman Alexander H. “Cigarette Smoking: Implication for Psychiatric Illness.” American Journal of Psychiatry 150:4 (April 1993): 546-553. In Cecilia M. and Richard A Gray 1995, they establishes the connection of “smoking and smoking quitting”( Cecilia M. and Richard A Gray 1995) related to the most serious problems of depression as well as the effect of depressive disorders and the significance of those human behaviors for psychiatry. The authors explain that smoking is obviously associated with “negative affect” a general idea with respect to “anger, tension and anxiety” (G. Alexander H, p.227). People with high depressive problems would be more likely to start smoking than the rest of the society. (G. Alexander H, p.227). But those who have suffered depression during their lives and became smokers, when trying to stop would suffer of profound depressive behaviors as they fail in the quitting process. (G. Alexander H, p.228). The remedies for this problem is to take “antidepressants” or if these people restart smoking. (G. Alexander H, p.228). Nicotine is the main reason why it is so hard for smokers to quit. (Pomerleau, Ovide F. p234), therefore, when a smokers experiments “stress, anxiety and aggression” (Pomerleau, Ovide F. p236). The answer for that is to smoke. (Pomerleau, Ovide F. p236) However, not all the smokers who try to leave the cigarette have to face a psychiatric disorder. (G. Alexander H, p.228). The habit of smoking is difficult, it begins with a stage of curiosity and little by little the process becomes in addiction. (Haire J, Debra, Glen M, and Edwin B, p.243) Sometimes the habit of smoking is strengthened by advertisements and marketing work.
(Haire J, Debra, Glen M, and Edwin B, p.244). In addition, it is all-important the emotional help that the smoker receives of the people who are close to him/her to quit smoking. (Haire J, Debra, Glen M, and Edwin B, p.245)

Summary 2 YUELI

Angel María Dávila.
YUELI level 6

Summary 2: Cigarette, Nicotine and death



According to the authors Lynn T. Kozlowski, Jack E. Henningfield and Janet Brigham in the chapter “Who Smokes and What Kills Them” (-U.S Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 1979), describe the result of smoking and the short period of smokers life. In 1995 about 3.1 people around the world died because of the use of cigarette and it is expected that about 500 million early deaths occurred in the current population worldwide (Collishaw and Lopéz, 1996, p.32). Kozlowski, Henningfield and Brigham say that cigarette smoke is the principal agent to cause lung cancer and the respiratory illnesses of “emphysema and bronchitis” (p.37). However, the way of illnesses change from one country to another in China, for instance, dies more people due to respiratory problems caused by smoking than lung cancer (Collishaw and Lopéz, 1996, p.42). Other diseases that are related to smoking and nicotine are heart attack, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis (Benowitz, 1998b, p.47). People who smoke are three times more in danger to suffer “myocardial infarction” than those who do not smoke (USDHHS, 1990, p.47). Smoking is the main factor of early “death” and physical illnesses in many countries around the world. The World Bank has calculated that “by the third decade (of the 21st century), “smoking is expected to kill 10 million people each year all over the world-more than the number of people ho die because of malaria, maternal and tuberculosis” (world bank, 1993).


Reference
Lynn T. Kozlowski, Jack E. Henningfield and Janet Brigham (2001).Cigarettes, Nicotine & Health, A behavioral Approach.

My studies at YUELY

My name is Angel, but you can call me Mar. That's my friends call me.

I am from Nicaragua.

I like to work out a lot.

I am an English teacher.

It is my first time in Toronto.