Numerous studies report that self-interest has a nonsignificant influence upon various political and social attitudes. In contrast, a recent article by Green and Gerken (1989) reports a California study showing that cigarette smokers are significantly more opposed than nonsmokers to public smoking restrictions and tobacco sales tax increases. The present article replicates and extends this analysis with data from two different statesIllinois (in 1984, N = 458) and North Carolina (in 1985, N = 488)-and using analysis techniques that differ from and expand upon the California study. Despite these methodological differences, self-interest is again shown to have a significant influence on opinions concerning public smoking restrictions and taxation, as well as on several additional issues relating to smoking and tobacco.

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The authors posed two questions regarding the notion of an afterlife to respondents in a recent thanatological investigation. Respectively, these concerned belief in a personal afterlife and—among those who considered it at least somewhat likely—how “good” or “bad” they thought that it would be for them. Virtually all individuals who thought that they were going to experience an afterlife also thought that it was going to be a favorable existence for them.

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