Nicotine is so addictive due to its chemical effects on the brain, but it may also be hard to give up from a social perspective. Around one-third of all cigarettes are smoked in social situations, research suggests, and many smokers are more likely to smoke when they see others smoke; they report that socializing is a key reason for smoking.
Perhaps most interestingly, nicotine may also help boost someone’s social skills. In a recent study, participants described themselves as being friendlier, more extroverted, and less socially anxious after ingesting nicotine, and nicotine use improved awareness of social and facial cues compared to participants who had abstained from nicotine for the past day or longer. The social function of smoking may help explain why it’s so addicting, and why it’s so hard to quit.