EN
This paper focuses on naďve theories, illusions, and misconceptions regarding the outcome of men’s cigarette smoking on female impressions. Beliefs about those outcomes were examined in a correlational study and their content was compared with the results of previous experimental verifi cation. Male and female participants (N = 396) responded to an advertisement placed on an online general-interest forum and completed a questionnaire concerning their beliefs about the impact of cigarette smoking in men on their self-presentation to women. This included impressions of attractiveness, intelligence, strength, sexiness, and other male qualities. Results show that people believe that smoking decreases a man’s perceived aptitude for being a woman’s long-term partner. The belief that smoking enhances a man’s attractiveness to a woman as a short-term partner was limited to female smokers. Non-smokers believed that smoking in men signals poor impulse-control. Gender, age, smoking status (smoker vs non-smoker), and number of cigarettes smoked daily appeared to play an important role in predicting expressed beliefs. Young female smokers were indicated as the subgroup bearing the most optimistic illusions.