The effect of smoking on peer evaluation

The effect of smoking on peer perceptions was investigated. Subjects were 80 students from two Algoma district high schools and twelve students from Algoma University. The subjects ranged from age 14 to 25. Subjects evaluated ten picture slides of peer models on three scales: attractiveness, trustworthiness and likeability. Contrary to what was expected, analysis of covariance showed that the youngest subjects rated peer models who smoke more negatively than the older subjects. The results indicated that smoking models were rated on three scales as less positive than the non-smoking models for the two younger age groups. Subjects, aged 25, rated smokers as more positive compared to non-smokers on the trustworthiness scale. The low number of subjects who smoke prohibited comparisons between subjects who smoke and subjects who do not smoke. Results indicated that in general most students, in the Algoma region, interpreted smoking as a less positive behavior.