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> how do they create needs you didn't have? They use all kinds of sophisticated socio-psychological techniques to do so. Unfortunately, most people (including
by th4dv 9y ago
> how do they create needs you didn't have?
They use all kinds of sophisticated socio-psychological techniques to do so.
Unfortunately, most people (including yourself) don't even realise this, hence they become more prone to such techniques.
- beaconstudios 9y agoI'm well aware of the techniques they use, but my point is that no matter how much an advertiser tries to influence you into buying their product the final decision and action is always your own. You could argue that people with poor impulse control should be protected from advertisers, and I would agree with you to an extent, but that's a separate issue.
- th4dv 9y agoIt's not only about poor impulse control. A lot of those techniques work in such a way that people don't even realise that something is trying to influence their behaviour. Usually, these techniques "catch" people when they are off guard. There is a lot of psychological literature describing how unreasonable people behave for the most of the time. Sadly, when it comes to manipulation, human kind has already lost this battle.
- beaconstudios 9y agoI think you overestimate the power of these techniques. They don't add up to making people buy things they don't want. They just change the perception of the goods' value or cost. No matter how many ads I get shown, I'm not going to buy a McDonalds unless I'm hungry and want something quick and cheap that I don't have to cook. They just use adverts to position themselves as a good choice in that situation, or to improve the public impression of the meat they use (and such claims are legally required to be true so they can't just say "we use great beef" and cook you up a rat burger).
- vmateixeira 9y agoUnderestimating their power just makes you a better target.
- th4dv 9y agoEver seen an ad saying "All shoes 50% off, offer ends by the end of this week" ? Now think about why these ads always have such a short deadline. > improve the public impression Someone trying to influence your impression IS manipulating you.
- saiya-jin 9y agoFFS, it's not some dark ancient magic, these things are generally well known in more educated crowds like here. Man up, take responsibility of your life and your own decisions. If you can't resist a burger just because you see an add on it, problem is not in advertising but purely in your weakness. You are not a puppet without your own free will, so don't act like one.
- arjie 9y agoI can't believe so many of you people are happy to use rhetorical techniques to convince (read: manipulate) people's opinions and yet, you object to others doing so. Look at you, relying on attempts to place yourself as an informed authority talking to the uninformed masses, and using an imprecise description of awesome powers wielded by hidden agents to people's detriment. Unbelievable hypocrisy. In contrast to your comment, an ad for Viagra is straightforward.
- th4dv 9y ago> relying on attempts to place yourself as an informed authority I've spent 5 years studying psychology at uni so even though I don't consider myself as an authority, I think I've got enough knowledge to know what I'm talking about. I don't give a flying fuck if the person reading my comment will be convinced or not. With that said, if they at least do a research on the subject, we'll all be better off. > In contrast to your comment, an ad for Viagra is straightforward Care to elaborate a bit? How discussing with someone anonymously on the internet compares with a situation where a company is using all kinds of techniques to trick people into spending money on their product?
- snomad 9y agoSocial networks / smart phone makers do too, see this recent 60 minutes piece http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hooked-on-phones/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hooked-on-phones/