Subliminal Messages

SUBLIM• What was the marketing and advertising communities' response to the subliminal messaging/advertising claims?

"Advertising is completely transparent. It is completely upfront in its desire, and the assault is head on." •"behavioural studies before and since (Vicary's experiment in the late '70s) have confirmed the principle that 'zero perception' equals 'zero response,' meaning subliminal messages have no known effect on human behaviour." • ~Terry O'Reilly and Mike Tennant "How Marketing Ate Our Culture" •"The odds are against your being manipulated by advertising are now very long indeed. Even if I wanted to manipulate you, I wouldn't know how to circumvent the legal regulations". • ~David Ogilvy

SUBLIM• When and in what form did the first application of subliminal messaging supposedly take place?

"The Manchurian Candidate" was published in 1959

SUBLIM• What is backmasking?

Claims of secret messaging often have links to controversial artists or genres of music

SUBLIM• How is backmasking similar to variations in our visual perception?

If you can perceive the message, it isn't subliminal •If you can't detect it, there is no evidence that it can influence thoughts or actions. •When we do receive a message, it is interpreted through our perception and desires

SUBLIM• When did people generally begin to fear subliminal messages?

In 1958, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation subliminally flashed "PHONE NOW" 352 times during popular TV show called "Close-up" Telephone usage did not go up during that time Nobody called the station When asked to guess the message, viewers sent ~500 letters but not one guessed correctly. (1/2 claimed to be hungry or thirsty during the show)

SUBLIM• Who was responsible for suggesting that subliminal messages could be used as an effective form of advertisement?

James Vicary · Claimed that when moviegoers were repeatedly shown a "1/3000" second advertisements soft drinks and popcorn sales increased significantly.

SUBLIM• What are subliminal messages and how do people fear they are being used/abused?

Perception that occurs below the threshold of human consciousness •If you are aware of the cues/information it is not subliminal

SUBLIM• How are subliminal messages different from subconscious messages?

SM is used to control or manipulate beliefs and behaviors --•Purchasing products and services --•Voting and political power --•Acceptance of beliefs and claims --•Violence towards self or others Subconscious is the part of the mind (not in technical use in psychoanalysis, where unconscious is preferred).

•SUBLIM Which federal agency reacted (or overreacted) to the fears of subliminal messaging?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that use of subliminal messages could result in loss of broadcast license.

SUBLIM• In the case of the trial for the band Judas Priest, what did the judge conclude? What was the basis for his judgment?

They were accused of triggering the suicide of Ray Belknap and the attempted suicide of James Vance. "The scientific research presented does not establish that subliminal stimuli, even if perceived, may precipitate conduct of this magnitude."

SUBLIM• What experiments were conducted to assess the claims of subliminal messaging? What evidence did they provide in support of subliminal messaging?

WILSON KEY CONDUCTED A EXPERIMENT REGARDING A DRINK AND HAD A HEADLINE THAT SAY ARE YOU SEXUALLY AROUSED BY THIS PICTURE. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SEDUCTIVE PERSON IN PRTRATED IN THE ICE CUBES

SUBLIM• How can pareidolia be used to explain aspects of the subliminal messaging claims?

We see what we want to see We see what we are looking for We see what others suggest --Says more about us than it does about the advertisements