Study: Ads Creating False Memories

[INRM]

Swiss Skeptic

Fair enough. See the post above yours for a clarification of what I meant.

Will do

My point is rather simple (which doesn't make it right, of course): People can avoid exposure.

Maybe for the subjects of the experiment, but what about people who are not subjects of the experiment

If somebody feels threatened in their psychological integrity through the existence of such ads, they can simply choose not to read/watch/listen to them.

How do we choose not to watch a commercial? Most TV stations have commercials on them and we don't know what commercial will pop up next.


Elaedith

Subliminal 'messages' don't work, but information can certainly be processed to some level without conscious awareness, and have various effects on perceived familiarity, affective responses, and even behaviour (as evidenced by subliminal priming studies). There are also recent claims that subliminal priming can influence preference for a consumer product under certain conditions. However, that is controversial and getting off the topic somewhat, since these ads were not subliminal and I don't think there is any evidence subliminal priming effects can last a week.

So it does have some effect. Wouldn't most people agree that deliberately producing an ad to bypass conscious processes in this manner is unethical?

 

[Elaedith]

Swiss Skeptic



Will do



Maybe for the subjects of the experiment, but what about people who are not subjects of the experiment



How do we choose not to watch a commercial? Most TV stations have commercials on them and we don't know what commercial will pop up next.


Elaedith



So it does have some effect. Wouldn't most people agree that deliberately producing an ad to bypass conscious processes in this manner is unethical?

Most information bypasses conscious processes whether this was intended or not. There is no evidence that doing this deliberately is more effective. It is certainly not more effective than attempting to attracting conscious attention or enhance conscious memory. Why would it be a particular issue?

 

[marplots]

Swiss Skeptic

How do we choose not to watch a commercial? Most TV stations have commercials on them and we don't know what commercial will pop up next.

I tried to do it with billboards. I got the idea from the local Baptist church which preached about not allowing certain things in your head to avoid corruption. In their case, I think they were introducing a kind of willful ignorance to combat modern morality and science that didn't agree with their dogma.

As a materialist, I thought they had a point and wanted to see if I could alter what I thought about by avoiding certain stimuli. Avoiding commercials, TV in general, and my wife's complaining would all fall under this.

I have no idea whether or not trying to "not see" billboards did anything at all.

I think I accept that what gets in my head does influence me. The opposite is easier to prove -- that what never gets in your head doesn't influence you, as for instance with language -- no exposure, no language. What worries me is that I usually can't detect or control it. So I am leaning toward believing the study has some relevance.

 

[bigred]

How do we choose not to watch a commercial?

uh perhaps by switching the channel? Or if nothing else the good ol mute button?