Subliminal Messages In Advertising
The idea of subliminal messages has been around for a long time. Subliminal messages are words, pictures, or sounds that might appear in television or radio commercials, TV shows or movies, print ads or recorded music. They are usually right below the level of conscious perception and go unnoticed to many people. It is thought that subliminal messages can change the way that people think or change what they want. The first known instance of subliminal messaging was in New Jersey. James Vicary had supposedly inserted two subliminal messages into a movie at a local theater. The messages were "Drink Coca Cola" and "Eat Popcorn." They were flashed across the screen throughout the movie for 1/3000th of a second. Vicary then documented how the popcorn and coca cola sales increased because of this. However, it was later discovered that there was no theater that tested this and it was all a ploy.
An example of subliminal messages in advertising can be found in many ads for alcohol. It is known that recovering alcoholics may hallucinate as a form of withdrawal from alcohol. It has been reported that they see aliens, skulls, boots, and other various shapes/objects. If you were to look closely at an alcohol ad you may find these images hidden in the ice cubes or the liquor itself. Marketing people think that by plcing these images in the ads then the recovering/recovered alcoholics will unconsciously see the images and will be triggered to have a relapse on their brand of alcohol. This is a terrible and immoral marketing strategy that many liquor compasnies use. They are literally preying on those who have alcohol dependence issues that they worked hard to recover from. See Picture 1
Another example of a marketing strategy that uses subliminal messaging is Coca Cola ads. Many of their ads have hidden images in them that are sexual. Since sex is one of the basic urges a person has, it sells well. Coca Cola is definitely working on that theory to try and sell their product. See Pictures 2,3, and 4. Pepsi is also guilty of using this marketing strategy on their advertisements. They most famously used subliminal messaging in the 1990s when they released some new designs on the cans. When two of the designs were aligned one on top of the other they spelled out sex on the side of the cans. See Picture 4. Disney is also guilty of using subliminal messaging in their movies and products. They have been accused of putting many subliminal messages throughout their movies. The most famous subliminal message that Disney is known for the phallic image that can be found on the VHS cover of "The Little Mermaid." It is used as a tower to the palace, but it is clearly of a phallic nature. There are also various incidents of things spelling out the word sex in many of their movies. See Pictures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Subliminal messaging is also used for more than just a marketing ploy. It is now used for self-help reasons. Some people believe that subliminal messages can help them gain confidence, lose weight, and/or quit smoking. Psychologists however, do not believe that this practice actually works. Subliminal messaging has not offically been proved or disproved which is why so many people believe in it and have varying opinions on it.
It is important to know how these messages could aeffect you especially if you are a recovering alcoholic. Most of the subliminal messages seen in ads are sexual and make the point that if you buy that product you will have sex or get a boyfriend/girlfriend because of it. This tactic has been around for over 50 years and it does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Most messages need to be looked for because they are not easily found. It is fun to try and find these messages because they are pretty much everywhere!
An example of subliminal messages in advertising can be found in many ads for alcohol. It is known that recovering alcoholics may hallucinate as a form of withdrawal from alcohol. It has been reported that they see aliens, skulls, boots, and other various shapes/objects. If you were to look closely at an alcohol ad you may find these images hidden in the ice cubes or the liquor itself. Marketing people think that by plcing these images in the ads then the recovering/recovered alcoholics will unconsciously see the images and will be triggered to have a relapse on their brand of alcohol. This is a terrible and immoral marketing strategy that many liquor compasnies use. They are literally preying on those who have alcohol dependence issues that they worked hard to recover from. See Picture 1
Another example of a marketing strategy that uses subliminal messaging is Coca Cola ads. Many of their ads have hidden images in them that are sexual. Since sex is one of the basic urges a person has, it sells well. Coca Cola is definitely working on that theory to try and sell their product. See Pictures 2,3, and 4. Pepsi is also guilty of using this marketing strategy on their advertisements. They most famously used subliminal messaging in the 1990s when they released some new designs on the cans. When two of the designs were aligned one on top of the other they spelled out sex on the side of the cans. See Picture 4. Disney is also guilty of using subliminal messaging in their movies and products. They have been accused of putting many subliminal messages throughout their movies. The most famous subliminal message that Disney is known for the phallic image that can be found on the VHS cover of "The Little Mermaid." It is used as a tower to the palace, but it is clearly of a phallic nature. There are also various incidents of things spelling out the word sex in many of their movies. See Pictures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Subliminal messaging is also used for more than just a marketing ploy. It is now used for self-help reasons. Some people believe that subliminal messages can help them gain confidence, lose weight, and/or quit smoking. Psychologists however, do not believe that this practice actually works. Subliminal messaging has not offically been proved or disproved which is why so many people believe in it and have varying opinions on it.
It is important to know how these messages could aeffect you especially if you are a recovering alcoholic. Most of the subliminal messages seen in ads are sexual and make the point that if you buy that product you will have sex or get a boyfriend/girlfriend because of it. This tactic has been around for over 50 years and it does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Most messages need to be looked for because they are not easily found. It is fun to try and find these messages because they are pretty much everywhere!