Unpacking willpower in unassisted smoking cessation: a qualitative analysis reveals a systematic profile of situational and cognitive strategies

Unassisted quitters drew from a sophisticated repertoire of strategies that are actionable, teachable, and embedded within the individual's physical and social environment. The qualitative methodology used in this study offers an understanding of the lived experiences of self-quitters, potentially informing public health interventions that integrate individual and system-level approaches to behavior change that extend beyond brute-force willpower.