Impacts of Subliminal Messages
One topic of heated debate is the effect of subliminal messages. Studies have been ongoing, since the 1950s, trying to establish a link as to whether or not subliminal messages even work. There is no doubt that advertising agencies use subliminal ads, but the question remains if they really have any effect on a person.
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The Subconscious
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Subliminal messages work by triggering the subconscious part of the mind. The idea of the subconscious was created by Sigmund Freud who believed that this part of our mind affected our external behavior. Therefore, if your subconscious mind was triggered by advertising or music, it would influence you to purchase certain items or alter your behavior.
Early Experiment
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Probably the most famous subliminal message experiment was performed by James Vicary in 1957. During a movie, he claimed to have flashed the words "Drink Coke" on the screen several times during the showing. He said that this led people to go to the concession stands and purchase more beverages. This is where it all started, and the wave of paranoia hit America. Although many people have heard of this experiment, most of them don't know that Vicary later retracted his findings.
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Subliminal Messages in Music
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There is no denying that there are subliminal messages in music. Many artists add what is called backtracking where messages are played backwards within a song. The Beatles, Judas Priest and Led Zeppelin are some popular bands that have backtracking in some of their music. This is highly controversial, but the words probably have no subconscious effect on the human mind. In a 1990 court case, Judas Priest was accused of being responsible for two teenagers' attempted suicides because of the backtracking in one of their songs. The scientific evidence presented at trial proved that subliminal messages do not work, and the case was dismissed.
Do Subliminal Messages Work?
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Studies have shown time and time again that subliminal messages do not work. While there is no arguing that advertisers use this method and sometimes our mind may register these messages, they do not affect behavior. Just because you see an ad with sexual imagery on it does not mean you are more likely to buy that product. There is simply no scientific evidence that suggests that these messages will actually alter a person's behavior.
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