Subliminal Messages

Explanations > Theories > Subliminal Messages

Description | So What? | See also | References 

Description

In the late 1950s, James Vicary’s marketing business was on the rocks, so he made up the idea of subliminal advertising. He claimed that putting a very short message in a film, ‘drink Coca-Cola’ resulted in increased sales of Coke. It was very successful for him and fooled a whole generation and maybe more.

Thus the field of subliminal persuasion was born, with the promise that a message that is not consciously noticed will have a significant effect on the subconscious.

Although some experiments got limited success, the big claims came from improperly conducted experiments, for example with no controls.

What is interesting is how many people still believe in them, and the 'big brother' paranoia that they feel as a result. 

So what?

Using it

Don’t bother.

See also

Mere Exposure Theory

http://alpha.fdu.edu/~gradford/subliminal.html, http://www.snopes2.com/business/hidden/popcorn.htm

References

Zanot, Pincus and Lamp (1983)

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