A therapist is working with someone who wants to quit smoking.The most effective strategy to help this person to quit smoking would be for the smoker to
A) go "cold turkey."
B) switch to light cigarettes.
C) gradually stretch the time periods between cigarettes.
D) begin systematic desensitization therapy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gradually stretching the time periods between cigarettes is an effective strategy for quitting smoking. This approach is known as the "gradual reduction method" and involves slowly decreasing the frequency and number of cigarettes smoked over time. This allows the smoker to adjust to the physical and psychological changes of reducing nicotine intake, making it easier to quit smoking altogether. Going "cold turkey" or abruptly quitting smoking can lead to intense withdrawal symptoms, making it more difficult to quit in the long run. Switching to light cigarettes does not necessarily mean the smoker will quit, as the reduced nicotine content can lead to compensatory smoking (i.e., smoking more cigarettes to get the same effect). Systematic desensitization therapy, while effective for other types of behavioral or anxiety-related problems, is not typically used to help individuals quit smoking.

A Therapist Is Working with Someone Who Wants to Quit