Here is a trailer of a documentary called "Programming the Nation" which goes into depth about the
history of subliminal messaging.
Subliminal messages are predetermined methods thought out by communication techniciains which are made to influence individuals to reply to information given subconiously. These messages can be written, hiden in pictures or voices, and given very fast and vaguely so that it avoids your conscious mind. Messages that are consciously seen or heard can be judged and critiqued, giving us the chance to choose how we want to react. Subliminal messages sink into our subconscious minds giving us no opportunity to react or decide how we want to feel towards the message given, and may cause us to respond in a order which we ordinarily wouldn't.
Since the 5th century, greeks created the science of rhetoric which is a way of influencing people to react in a certain way in which they normally wouldn't. Giving pieces of persuasive information to people can be manipulative and when they see or hear certain bits of data, they can be persuaded one way or another, without being aware. The way in which we process information, and the effectiveness that subliminal messages has on our brain has been continually studied throughout history, including many commercial experiments during the mid 50's. These commercial experiments included projecting subliminal images during television, and also audio subliminal messages during radio commercials.
One of the most well known subliminal messaging experiments created was done by a man named James Vicary in 1957 which aired during the presentation of the movie Picnic. It featured the words "Hungry? Eat Popcorn. Drink Coca Cola" which appeared every 5 seconds for the span of 0.003 seconds. It was said that the popcorn sales increased by 58% and the Coke by 18%. This information shocked the public and caused a controversial stir, giving individuals the impression that effects of subliminal perception in the future would cause a world where everyone was subliminally controlled to do what the government authorities wanted. Later on in 1962 James Vicary stated that his study was untrue and he never gave any detailed description of his study, giving him no evidence to support his theory.
This subliminal message is just plain clever in my opinion, I've purchased tostitos many times
throughout my life, but never noticed the two people with the salsa dip between. Now that I think of
it though, I can never eat Tostitos without salsa, could this be a coincidence? Or is the logo influencing
my subconcious mind without me even noticing.
So, what are my thoughts on subliminal messaging?
I feel that subliminal messages are very effective and can control us to react in a certain desired way. Subliminal messages are meant to be absorbed subconsciously into our brains, so if we subconsciously perceive it, how are we to know that it actually affected us? I think that certain subliminal messages like per say, James Vicary's strategy, are more effective over nonsense advertisements with "sex" messages hidden in them which virtually have no meaning really at all, and are typically non related to the product or true meaning of the message given. I believe that these "naughty" messages are typically done by accident, as it is known to the design and advertising industry that sometimes when we create things we oversee the little details that others may notice. So, products or signs which hidden "sex" words, etc are more likely accidental than anything, in my opinion.
This is a video recorded by someone who found a McDonalds subliminal message during a food network show, I believe a message like this could definantely have an affect on our subconcious decisions and potentially pursuade us to go and eat at McDonalds, without knowing we were influenced for those short seconds it was flashed.
On the other hand, I believe other subliminal messaging like flashing demands during a television show, are intentional and effective. This messages tell our subconscious mind to do things, and we may actually do them whether or not we realize it. Flashing a McDonalds logo during a cooking show, could be extremely effective, since normally when we tune into a food channel on television, we tend to become hungry, and seeing a McDonalds advert quickly during the show may potentially get our minds to subconsciously think "Hm...I'm hungry, maybe I should grab a quick burger and fry at McDonalds."
So in conclusion, do I believe subliminal messaging is meant to manipulate us, or persuade us to respond in a certain way? Yes and no. Like I said, certain subliminal messages like flashing food advertisements during a television show or movie, are definitely manipulative and out there to persuade us. But hidden messages like "sex" on a skittles bag, are most likely mistakes made by whomever designed them, I mean why else would someone randomly stick a word which has no relation to the product whatsoever?
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