INTERPERSONAL AND INTRAPSYCHIC GOAL-RELATED CONFLICT REPORTED BY CIGARETTE SMOKERS, UNAIDED QUITTERS, AND RELAPSERS

Current cigarette smokers not actively trying to cut down (n = 38), recent relapsers (n = 40), and successful self-initiated quitters (n = 36), matched on age, gender, and smoking background, completed questionnaires retrospectively assessing (a) the degree of conflict among important personal goals and the goal of smoking cessation, and (b) the level of perceived social hindrance from significance others vis-a-vis their efforts to quit smoking. Results indicated that unaided quitters, in contrast to current smokers and relapsers, recalled significantly less goal-related interpersonal interference and significantly lower levels of intergoal conflict. The findings are considered to provide support for a social/cognitive perspective on the process of self-managed smoking cessation.