Most people, in my opinion, adapt these destructive habits because they believe the habits are good for them in one way or another, even though they know that these same habits are also destructive to. Various mannerisms, drugs, and other behaviors while hurting them in obvious, and sometimes not so obvious ways, serve them in other aspects of their lives validating these habits for them.
First off, an obvious habit with obvious consequences today would be tobacco use. Smoking in particular is poor for your health, and today's awareness of this fact is nearly world-wide. Most people start smoking when they're young. This may not have been true in the past, but today even children have an idea of how smoking is detrimental to your health. These kids still start smoking do to the fact that it creates an image that the kid believes will further him with his peers. In one way or another, they think that smoking will gives other kids the impression of maturity or coolness. While children don't fully comprehend the detrimental effects of smoking they know they are there and ignore the consequences favoring the immediate gratification of the habit.
Even adults, who know the consequences of the act, pick up the habit. Occasionally like children adults, for the same reason of conveying a different appearance to their peers, pick up the habit though more often adults smoke for physical gratification. They need to take off the edge, or they think it will help them lose weight. Often people pick up smoking to help relieve stress even though its known that nicotine is a stimulant. The destructive after-effects of this habit are obvious, but even those who know the sid ...