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Subliminal
Messages
Do Subliminal Messages Really Work?
By Michelle Bryner
For some, merely watching the latest thriller at the movie
theater can conjure up images of butter-soaked popcorn.
For others, perhaps, the sound of a catchy jingle might
trigger thoughts of buying a new set of wheels.
Unbeknownst to you, or at least to the conscious you, the
phenomenon could be the result of subliminal messages.
The idea that flashing words and images can seep into
the subconscious mind and
persuade an observer to do something without their awareness came into the
public eye in the 1950s.
That's when a marketing experiment flashed the message
"Drink Coca-Cola" onto a New Jersey movie screen and correlated this
to increased Coke sales in that area.
Whether it actually works is still up for debate.
The idea behind the crafty technique: by flickering visuals
at a speed greater than your eyes and brain can process or speaking at a
slightly lower volume than your ears can hear allows messages to sneak past
your conscious mind and into your subconscious.
The word subliminal derives itself from the Latin word
"sub" meaning below and
"limen" meaning threshold —
below a person's threshold of awareness.
Scientists continue to unravel the mystery behind the
sneaky persuader, with research released last year showing that subliminal
persuasion could help you learn without knowing it.
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Michelle
writes about technology and chemistry for Live Science. She has a Bachelor of
Science in Chemistry from the Salisbury University, a Bachelor of Chemical
Engineering from the University of Delaware and a degree in Science Journalism
from New York University. She is an active Muay Thai kickboxer at Five Points
Academy and loves exploring NYC with friends.
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