Mind Control Theme in Peacocks...
Mind control has long been a superpower that many have
longed to possess. The possibilities in
power, money, and success are endless.
Corporations, governments, and militaries spend fortunes in
understanding the behavior of others. Social
media giants use algorithms to predict their users’ next mouse clicks. Influencers use products for the bandwagon effect
of their fans. Group think of major medias
can impact nations’ laws and elections. But no other industry than the
advertising world can make us buy products by unapologetically using mind
control tactics.
The advertising industry knows how to leave an
impression on the potential customer. Ads
affect the temporal lobe of the brain that processes language. Slogans, jingles, and sounds can set off
triggers. Thin-slicing, a mental process
where the advertising world targets, is a place in the brain where one makes a
judgment or inference on something instantly with limited amounts of
information. Our decisions to make
purchases heavily rely on colors and branding.
An image is not worth one thousand words. Actually, images are processed 60000X faster
than text. Smell is another method that easily influences the purchases of customers. Cinnabon, Abercrombie & Fitch, Dunkin
Donuts, and even the Apple Store (they have their own fragrance) use scents at
malls to lure in customers. Touch is also a very powerful tool in sales. Waitresses who touch men’s shoulders are
proven to get better tips. (Psychology
Today)
Subliminal advertising is probably the most mysterious
form of mind control. Seeing or hearing
something subconsciously without remembrance seems like a waste of time and
money in advertising. But it works. Subliminal advertising gets a person to buy a
product with little thought by tapping into the customer’s emotions without the
customer’s awareness. Studies show that the
subliminal message works best if it is negative. Hidden messages within branding such as
Baskin and Robbins (31 is in the word), color psychology like using blue for
trustworthiness (notice how a lot of apps are blue), and sounds or hidden
lyrics in jingles have proven to boost
sales. Because subliminal methods
work, some forms of subliminal advertising fall under illegal deceptive
advertising criteria.
Here are some famous examples.
The idea of being able to control someone and make them buy your product is intriguing. Buy my book....buy my book...buy my book....
If
you can make someone buy your product, what else can you make he/she do? Peacocks,
Pedestals and Prayers explores the dark side of advertising in an evil,
horror-paranormal novel. Download a free
copy from May 11-15.
