A visiting psychiatrist alumni of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine recently remarked,

cigarette advertisements associate smoking with positive emotional, social, and personal benefits rather than the physical act of smoking itself. The ads target specific psychological needs, such as the desire for independence, peer acceptance, social status, and stress relief.  The advertisements exploit the emotional vulnerabilities in adolescents and adults.

This psychological phenomenon is illustrated by the SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES Exhibition on display on the E level of the University of Cincinnati Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library. Advertising increases brand recognition by creating emotional connections, making commodities well-known in a consumer’s mind before and when they are ready to purchase a product. Advertisements use targeted messaging that will reach specific audiences through consistency and memorable images. They employ emotional impressions which negate reliance on logical persuasion.