Research by Leventhal and his colleagues (1967) was described in the text. In the experiment, the researchers showed one group of smokers a film depicting the ravages of lung cancer, gave another group of smokers a pamphlet with instructions on how to quit smoking, and exposed a third group to both the film and the pamphlets. People in the last group reduced their smoking significantly more than people in the other two groups because __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combination of arousing fear through the film depicting the ravages of lung cancer and providing a means to reduce that fear through the pamphlets with instructions on how to quit smoking was effective in significantly reducing smoking more than the other interventions alone. This approach aligns with the fear appeal theory, which suggests that for a fear appeal to be effective, it must be accompanied by a clear and feasible way for the individual to reduce the threat.

Research by Leventhal and His Colleagues (1967) Was Described in the Text