How does advertising work?

[Robert_Sock]

Many people, I suspect, thinks it only works on the other guy, but I suspect it works on us all. Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised).

In the words of a well known past psychiatrist:

“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.”
― R.D. Laing

 

[mommy_k]

I don’t know, but I noticed that on the picture of the Wendy’s hamburger girl – her shirt ruffles on the top spells “mom”. This is what they call subliminal advertising, or so I have been told.

 

[TimothyH]

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)

-Tim-

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Many people, I suspect, thinks it only works on the other guy, but I suspect it works on us all. Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised).

In the words of a well known past psychiatrist:

“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.”
― R.D. Laing

We need to be super conscious. Always suspect that some one is trying to play you for a sucker. And lay off the material items. People really don’t need very much.

 

[Irishmom2]

Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something

I think that is a bit strong. Demonic trance-like state because I want to buy something I saw in an ad? I don’t really need to buy food, I just think I want it.

 

[Michael19682]

I think that is a bit strong. Demonic trance-like state because I want to buy something I saw in an ad? I don’t really need to buy food, I just think I want it.

I have to agree with Robert…
I think he is referring to the motivational affect, the real edge of manipulation,
and not everyday wants.
The difference between wanting only one beer and wanting the whole case.
Between liking something and thinking it will satisfy you for a moment,
and thinking you’ve just got to have it before it disappears from the shelf.
The short, succinct, clear language is greed, lust, avarice. And if you are an advertiser,
you can conjure all that up in a moments notice in your targets mind – ethics become irrelevant when we see only dollars and our success on the one hand, and ? on the other.

 

[GEddie]

I don’t know, but I noticed that on the picture of the Wendy’s hamburger girl – her shirt ruffles on the top spells “mom”. This is what they call subliminal advertising, or so I have been told.

I saw that too. ICXC NIKA

 

[Beryllos]

Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised)

I think the effectiveness of advertising does not depend at all on trances, and certainly not demonic trance-like states. It quite simply is crafted to hook into the customer’s pre-existing desires. Good advertisements have a delivery method which is designed to get past your defenses, and several hooks targeted to specific desires.

Now, the customer may not desire beer, per se, but they are selling it based on the customer’s desire for popularity, respect, prestige, wealth (in keeping with class identity), or beautiful girls.

 

[marlap2]

Many people, I suspect, thinks it only works on the other guy, but I suspect it works on us all. Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised).

In the words of a well known past psychiatrist:

“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.”
― R.D. Laing

I’ve been creating ads for too many years to mention. Won a few awards even…
One of the best (and definitely most disturbing) seminars on creating an ad was based on the 7 deadly sins.

1. LUST: It’s what puts the girl in a bikini on the hood of a car at the car show. It’s the guy drinking coca cola outside in the heat (remember that from the 90’s) It’s almost every ad that promotes a sexy car, bike, clothing. Not to mention the perfume ads…
2. GLUTTONY. Any close up “food porn” of a burger on tv … Enough said. Giant Food for giant sin… Oh, but don’t you deserve a break today? Sure you do. Eat 1,800 calories and rest up.
3. GREED. Yes, you deserve an Audi A8. It’s what you deserve. You worked hard for it… Sure you do. buy buy buy buy… The guy with the most toys wins, after all.
4. SLOTH. One of the harder sells out there, I think. Because it’s hard to get a lazy person to actually want to get out and buy something. But then wherever you see something that is “money for nothing…” “It’s easy…” Anything that offers you a two for one…
5. WRATH. Just look at half the election ads.
6. ENVY. One of the strongest emotions to use when selling almost anything.

1. PRIDE. Oh, yeah. That’s her, with her logo on her purse, her coat, her shirt, her shoes. It’s all about who she’s wearing… not who she is.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents worth.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I think that is a bit strong. Demonic trance-like state because I want to buy something I saw in an ad? I don’t really need to buy food, I just think I want it.

I’m talking mostly about materialism, not so much the necessities.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I’ve been creating ads for too many years to mention. Won a few awards even…
One of the best (and definitely most disturbing) seminars on creating an ad was based on the 7 deadly sins.

1. LUST: It’s what puts the girl in a bikini on the hood of a car at the car show. It’s the guy drinking coca cola outside in the heat (remember that from the 90’s) It’s almost every ad that promotes a sexy car, bike, clothing. Not to mention the perfume ads…
2. GLUTTONY. Any close up “food porn” of a burger on tv … Enough said. Giant Food for giant sin… Oh, but don’t you deserve a break today? Sure you do. Eat 1,800 calories and rest up.
3. GREED. Yes, you deserve an Audi A8. It’s what you deserve. You worked hard for it… Sure you do. buy buy buy buy… The guy with the most toys wins, after all.
4. SLOTH. One of the harder sells out there, I think. Because it’s hard to get a lazy person to actually want to get out and buy something. But then wherever you see something that is “money for nothing…” “It’s easy…” Anything that offers you a two for one…
5. WRATH. Just look at half the election ads.
6. ENVY. One of the strongest emotions to use when selling almost anything.

1. PRIDE. Oh, yeah. That’s her, with her logo on her purse, her coat, her shirt, her shoes. It’s all about who she’s wearing… not who she is.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents worth.

The Seven Deadly Sins can be so subtle that we can hardly notice them. I consider myself to be humble, but In writing this I noticed tiny urges pride.

 

[Irishmom2]

I’m talking mostly about materialism, not so much the necessities.

Ok, but I still think what I quoted from your earlier post, was over the top.

I have never bought a car, a Pepsi, or anything else because of an ad. Perhaps I am able to see through the message and just see the product. Either I need it or I don’t. I can afford it or I can’t. I don’t keep up with the Jones’ nor do I keep up with fashion. So I pretty much only purchase things I actually need.

Demonic-trancelike state? That sounds more like an excuse for people. People that can’t think for themselves are willing to use any excuse. Remember back in the '70’s, Flip Wilson’s character, Geraldine? “The devil made me do it!”

No, you made yourself do it.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I’ve been creating ads for too many years to mention. Won a few awards even…
One of the best (and definitely most disturbing) seminars on creating an ad was based on the 7 deadly sins.

1. LUST: It’s what puts the girl in a bikini on the hood of a car at the car show. It’s the guy drinking coca cola outside in the heat (remember that from the 90’s) It’s almost every ad that promotes a sexy car, bike, clothing. Not to mention the perfume ads…
2. GLUTTONY. Any close up “food porn” of a burger on tv … Enough said. Giant Food for giant sin… Oh, but don’t you deserve a break today? Sure you do. Eat 1,800 calories and rest up.
3. GREED. Yes, you deserve an Audi A8. It’s what you deserve. You worked hard for it… Sure you do. buy buy buy buy… The guy with the most toys wins, after all.
4. SLOTH. One of the harder sells out there, I think. Because it’s hard to get a lazy person to actually want to get out and buy something. But then wherever you see something that is “money for nothing…” “It’s easy…” Anything that offers you a two for one…
5. WRATH. Just look at half the election ads.
6. ENVY. One of the strongest emotions to use when selling almost anything.

1. PRIDE. Oh, yeah. That’s her, with her logo on her purse, her coat, her shirt, her shoes. It’s all about who she’s wearing… not who she is.

Anyway, that’s just my two cents worth.

Love it! Good post.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Ok, but I still think what I quoted from your earlier post, was over the top.

I have never bought a car, a Pepsi, or anything else because of an ad. Perhaps I am able to see through the message and just see the product. Either I need it or I don’t. I can afford it or I can’t. I don’t keep up with the Jones’ nor do I keep up with fashion. So I pretty much only purchase things I actually need.

Demonic-trancelike state? That sounds more like an excuse for people. People that can’t think for themselves are willing to use any excuse. Remember back in the '70’s, Flip Wilson’s character, Geraldine? “The devil made me do it!”

No, you made yourself do it.

you may think so…Just the fact that you bought a car or a Pepsi shows that you listen to the ads.

 

[Irishmom2]

you may think so…Just the fact that you bought a car or a Pepsi shows that you listen to the ads.

No, you are wrong. We go to the car lot and see what is there, and choose from the size we need and the price we can afford. I buy Pepsi because I like how it tastes, I can’t even tell you what their ad is. So no, I do not listen to their ads. In fact, I am the type that mutes ads on tv completely and doesn’t listen to radio ads, I change the channel.

 

[Robert_Sock]

No, you are wrong. We go to the car lot and see what is there, and choose from the size we need and the price we can afford. I buy Pepsi because I like how it tastes, I can’t even tell you what their ad is. So no, I do not listen to their ads. In fact, I am the type that mutes ads on tv completely and doesn’t listen to radio ads, I change the channel.

The key to advertizing is to make people to “want.” Whether or not we buy a particular product is not what I intended to convey, nor do I believe it always works that way. Tell us, what do you want today? For me, I want inner peace and freedom from wanting.

 

[inocente]

Many people, I suspect, thinks it only works on the other guy, but I suspect it works on us all. Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised).

There’s at least one ad on just about every CAF webpage, so are you saying CAF puts you in a demonic trance-like state, or is that different?

 

[Irishmom2]

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/2016/3-secrets.jpg

There’s at least one ad on just about every CAF webpage, so are you saying CAF puts you in a demonic trance-like state, or is that different?

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/2016/big-picture.jpg

 

[inocente]

Robert, just spotted this at the Vatican website, it might be worth a read:

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

ETHICS IN ADVERTISING

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_doc_22021997_ethics-in-ad_en.html

 

[o_mlly]

Many people, I suspect, thinks it only works on the other guy, but I suspect it works on us all. Quite literally, I suspect it places us all in a demonic trance-like state where we think we want something (it need not be the product advertised).

In the words of a well known past psychiatrist:

“The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.”
― R.D. Laing

I believe I’ve taken that advice! I hardly watch any commercial TV. EWTN, PBS, Netflix serve to inform and entertain w/o the ads. As I age the tails of youth that used to wag me are gone so when I do watch or read the news media, I now subliminally “tune-out” or flip the channel when the annoying commercial break starts. I think the inventor of the remote control should be canonized.