In the article "Subliminal Advertising Leaves Its Mark On The Brain" researchers at the University College London discovered that even when people don't recognize subliminal messages, their brain still acknowledges them. Subliminal advertisement is legal in the United States, but what the "study doesn't address is whether this would then influence you to go out and buy a product". The researchers also did a test to see if people’s brains still registered these subliminal messages when it was distracted by something else. They did this by having people wear these two tone glasses and they have to pick out numbers from within pictures. When people were asked to point out a certain number, their brain never registered the hidden picture, even though one of their eyes could barely see it still. According to Dr. Bahrami "it challenges previous thinking - that what is subconscious is also automatic."
Do you think hidden messages in advertisements could be a problem in the United States? Do you ever notice any of these hidden messages? Could this affect our decisions on purchasing a product?
I wouldn't say that a hidden message in advertisement in the United States is a "problem," I think it is up to the producer to decide whether this hidden message is worth seeing; and if it is then they probably wouldn’t have it hidden. If the hidden message were to change the ideals of a product then I don't think it would be there unless it was a negative aspect. These hidden messages may sway our decisions on purchasing a product if the hidden message is derogatory to our values, but other than that I don't see it affecting advertising as a whole and the want of a product.
ReplyDeleteI do not think subliminal messages are dangerous because like Lillian points out “it is up to the producer to decide whether this hidden message is worth seeing.” It is also up to the viewers interpretation of the advertisement. I personally do not pick up on a lot of subliminal messages or hints in advertisements. For instance when we analyzed the M&M Super Bowl message in class I did not even think about racial or gender stereotypes. I just thought the commercial was funny and did a good job of targeting a specific audience, that audience being a younger generation who likes LMFAO. Therefore I think people see and hear what they want. Another prime example of this is the Disney movies with sexual subliminal messages. As kids most of us did not pick up on these but now many of us see these. In high school we discussed these messages in DIsney movies in my Psychology class deciding whether these were accidents or were a joke expected to go unnoticed. Many people, like myself, did not pick up on these clues till they were pointed out.
DeleteAdvertising has always been trying to find new ways of selling products. It seems some advertisements make problems out of things that aren’t problems, and then they sell you the product to fix a fictional problem. So, I don’t think subliminal messages in advertising would be all that harmful. Some people give into the ideas that they get from an advertisement and run off to buy that product. However, most people seem to have some common sense when it comes to what they are buying. Some advertisements simply work better than others, such as the advertising for the pet rock, which could be seen as the pinnacle of good advertising. Subliminal messages seem to be in advertising in order to keep the product in your mind for as long as possible. I doubt it could be harmful to the general public because they still retain the power as the consumers. Advertising is supposed to affect how we purchase things because its purpose is to make that particular product stand out among the countless other consumer products for sale. So, if a company feels adding subliminal messages to their advertisements would help sells I don’t see why they shouldn’t be able to after all you can always choose not to buy something.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that subliminal messages are dangerous, because of the last point in the article about if you are focusing too much on something else that the brain cannot pick up on subliminal messages. The thing is even if it makes you purchase a product that is not going to kill anyone in my opinion and if you like the product the subliminal message helped you out. I really do not see that subliminal messages can be damaging to society and I have never noticed subliminal messages, because they would not be very good at being subliminal if I noticed them.
ReplyDeleteI know that some commercials and advertisements employ subliminal messaging to attract a target audience. I don’t usually think of this as a problem because that is the point of marketing to entice people to buy a product. However, one application in which I feel using hidden messages is bad, is the exploitation of little children. Children have less control over their actions and can be easily manipulated as such they are probably the most susceptible target to subliminal messages and should be protected from this almost brainwashing like practice. I have notice a few sexual subliminal messages in Disney movies and this is a perfect example of the wrong type of subliminal messaging that I think is hurtful and should be protected against.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if I would say subliminal messages are a problem in the United States, it is just another way for companies to get you to buy there item. I personally have never noticed a subliminal message but I don’t pay attention to commercials very much. I think it could definitely effect our purchasing. The mind is very complex and if they can get into your mind then they can make you do anything… Inception
ReplyDeleteI don't think that subliminal messages are necessarily a problem. They are basically just used to help sell the product. I am usually not paying attention when commercials come on. I am a constantly distracted person to begin with so I don't recall noticing any subliminal messages. For the people who actually do pay attention to advertisements, it would be a different story.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that subliminal messages are a problem. Not everyone pays attention to commercials while they are watching television. I do not notice any of the hidden messages that are in commercials. During most commercials I stop paying attention to what is on my television. I think that if someone watches something they potentially could be swayed into buying something based on subliminal messaging.
ReplyDeleteI do not see subliminal messages as a problem, simply because I have never encountered one. I usually do not pay attention to commercials in that much depth to see/care about any hidden message. I do not see why advertisements agencies spend their resources on producing a hidden messaget that what, one in a million actually end up seeing. I personally see it as a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteIf a hidden message is found to be derrogatory to a consumer's beliefs, that can be a huge problem to the company producing the message. If a company feel the need to put in a hidden message, they sould be very careful on how it can be perceived by their audience.
As far as noticing subliminal messages, no, I haven't. But isn't that the entire point? If the advertisement company does their job correctly, you'll never notice subliminal advertising, except subconsciously. Subliminal advertisement is even being used in the middle of TV shows, so being distracted isn't an issue, if you're actually watching the show in question.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that subliminal messaging is a problem in the United States, but it could very well become one. With the state of the economy right now, marketers are trying their hardest to get people to buy their products. This is evident when watching tv, because you can tell when a company is trying to hard to get a laugh. Now don’t get me wrong, but some commercials are funny, but the majority of them aren’t. With the challenge of attracting new customers to their product and creating an entertaining commercial, the next best option is subliminal advertisements. Personally I have never noticed a subliminal advertisement, but then again that is why it’s called subliminal. Therefore you don’t notice that you are being sold a product. So how would I know if there was subliminal advertising going on unless I was told? Yes, I do think that subliminal advertising is something to consider when purchasing new products. Because like I stated before companies are trying harder than ever to sell products to people. With subliminal advertising, the advertising companies could get the upper hand in the marketing world to influence our decisions.
ReplyDeleteI don't think subliminal messaging is a major problem in the US right now. I think if they can do it, they should be allowed to. Everyone has free will. Just because you may unconsciously notice a subliminal message encouraging you to buy a certain product does not mean that you have no self control and you will automatically buy it. If advertizing agencies want to try to manipulate people into buying things, they should be allowed to try, and if it works, good for them. Its not really hurting people and its not taking away or limiting anyone's rights, therefore it should be legal. I haven't noticed any subliminal messaging before, but that's the whole point. If I noticed it it wouldn't be subliminal. I think subliminal messaging is fair and unless the messages get really out of hand (messages of hate etc.) they shouldn't be anything to worry about.
ReplyDeleteSubliminal messages may not be a major problem in our country, but it's still nothing something I would want to be exposed to. If companies don't want to show me something "directly", than why would I want to be exposed to it on a subconscious level. Also, who knows what kind of other effects these messages will have on our lives, such as effecting our brain and way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteI personally have seen the subliminal more in movies than in commercials. Typically in small children’s movies I see a lot of jokes that only adults would understand and find funny. I think that this brings a new sense of humor to the film and doesn’t cause any harm in the process. In commercials I have noticed slight subliminal messages referring to drinking or drug use in commercials but nothing that would be noticeable to anyone who doesn’t already have knowledge of the topic. Overall I think most subliminal jokes are innocent but they need to be monitored to make sure they don’t cross the line.
ReplyDeleteIn 2001 we received around 1000 advertisement messages a day. Now we we receive over 5000. Most advertising, even the legal kind is full with subliminal message. Commercials and campaigns have to be suggestive in their message yet not obvious, that's the truth about advertising. We have all seen the scenes in Disney movies which really make you wonder if these movies are apt for children. The fact is that directors of commercials, movies, series or whichever form of visual media are well aware of every detail in their work. These subliminal messages are inserted for one reason or another, but as I said earlier most forms of advertisement now a days have a certain degree of shadiness.
ReplyDeleteI don't think these hidden messages in advertisements are becoming a problem in the United States. Everything that the media does is riddled with subliminal messages, even Disney movies like Ignacio said. It's kind of hard to notice it becasue after all, it is a subliminal message and I personally wouldn't notice them unless I analyzed a worked extremely carefully. And of course subliminal messages would affect my decision to buy a product because after all, it's trying to send us messages that we think about subconciously.
ReplyDelete