Subliminal Messages Examples

The subliminal perception is not a new phenomenon since, according to several specialized sources; it dates back thousands of years before Christ. In fact, the existence of the human subconscious had already been pointed in ancient times by philosophers, mathematicians, researchers and other scientists. For example, Democritus (400 B.C.) referred to the unconscious perception, when he said there were things the eye did not see but were captured by the brain. This illustrious Greek philosopher noted that much of perceptible sensations were not perceived by people. Earlier, Plato (427-347 BC) and later, Aristotle (384-322 BC) also addressed this issue and expressed the subconscious was not limited to perceive things just as they were; instead it captured the real meaning of things, objects, etc.

The term subliminal comes from the union of two Latin words “sub” (low) and “limen” (threshold, limit). Since this point of view, subliminal means a perception that occurs below the limits of awareness, but affecting the subconscious.

Thus, although professional ethics prevents using subliminal messages, there are advertisers who still today address and question the use of this kind of manipulative tactics in election campaigns, movies, ads, or even on television news.

Subliminal Advertising

Subliminal advertising refers to the use of imperceptible to the eye or not consciously perceived sound effects, which, however, do not go unnoticed by human subconscious and influence human behavior, for instance, prompting people to purchase specific goods or services. It can be defined as a specific form of advertising, using techniques for producing particular stimulus that are close to human senses’ threshold, in order to act on targeted audiences without them being aware of what they are perceiving. Human memory and remembrances, as well as their emotional charge, are not only formed by the content we have consciously stored, but especially, for that other content that has been acquired unconsciously.

Since this perspective, subliminal stimuli (whether auditory, olfactory, visual, or any other) are reproduced or transmitted at a low intensity, in a semi-hidden way, in order not to be fully and consciously captured by human sensorial organs. Nevertheless, they will be unconsciously stored at a deeper level in the human mind, where these stimuli shall have a greater effect on shaping our future behavior. This is also based on emotions that subliminal stimuli will trigger, that would be also associated to other memories, no matter if they were consciously or unconsciously acquired.

Therefore, it is a technique that lacks legality, while prompting certain reactions on consumers without people being aware about it, including, for example, altering consuming habits, behavior changing, etc. This is considered as a highly unethical practice since it restricts people freedom and reduces choices’ availability. Furthermore, individuals are not free and their choices are coerced by those who use this kind of psychological mechanisms to encourage consumption. Behind subliminal advertising lies a definitive manipulative intent.

Conscious and Unconscious (or subconscious) Areas

Before showing some subliminal messages examples it is important to explain that human mental processes can be divided into two main areas: the conscious and the unconscious (also called subconscious). Conscious area is our rational mind, it is the one who question and discuss any stimuli captured by human sensory organs, being these stimuli the only ones processed by human conscious area.

On the other hand, the subconscious area is the one that masters human mind without people realizing it. It is shaped by things we have noticed for years, past experiences or memories. It is precisely in the unconscious area where subliminal messages, those that are grasped by human senses without people realizing it, are stored.

Thus, when a stimulus is perceived by the human body, it has a certain degree of perceptual threshold. This degree depends on the relationship between the energy intensity in the individual environment and the stimulus’ energy intensity. However, energy intensity in the individual environment changes over time. Therefore, if the stimulus is perceived by a high threshold, the individual will be aware of that input, but if the stimulus passes through a low threshold, the individual will not notice it. Precisely, that kind of stimulus not captured by the individual as it passes below the perceptual threshold is called subliminal.

Examples of Subliminal Messages

In the late 1950s, were carried studies on the possibility of manipulating the instincts in the individual were benefitted by the invention of a new device, the tachistoscope. This apparatus was a film projector counting with a high speed messages’ shutter. Actually, messages were sent every 5 minutes at 1/3000 seconds, and the equipment also allowed varying speeds for obtaining different effects.

At first, it was used to broadcast superimposed messages on films (movies or TV). At that speed, although the tachistoscope sent perfectly sharp images, they were hastily perceived by human eyes, which failed to complete the process of rationalization. In this way the image was recorded as a feeling, but as it was repeated over and over during a fixed period of time, the message was stored in the subconscious area.

In 1957, James Vicary, a clever American executive, conducted an experiment in USA to find out the power of manipulation of subliminal advertising. During the screening of a movie film it was showed a photogram (there are shown 24 photograms per second) with the following message: “Eat popcorn” and “Drink Coke”. The result was amazing, since sales of popcorn raised a 70%, while sales of Coke a 20%.

Another interesting example is the use of hidden subliminal messages in melodies we perceive background while working in offices, the music heard over the intercom of big malls or through popular songs. This type of subliminal message can be easily interleaved; the only thing needed is to record a message at a low level and then mix it with other sounds in order to camouflage it. As several specialized publications report, it is known that, for example, that in some offices are transmitted a sort of messages like “How lucky I am to have this job” or “I am happy working here”, while playing an apparently harmless background music.

The American company Walt Disney has used such subliminal messages. The most recent case occurred with the seemingly innocent children’s film “The Rescuers”. The film, starring two friendly rodents, Bernardo and Blanca, showed a subliminal sex message, by showing the naked torso of a young woman looking out a window of a building. Nevertheless, this was not the only case, since it also occurred in such popular films as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Mowgly” or “The Little Mermaid”, where also subliminal sex messages were used. This caused that the American Life League of Virginia, USA, denounced the company.

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Many of us may not be aware of the correct definition of subliminal messages. They refer to hidden implication in any of the medium of advertisement. Those who want to find some of the subliminal messages examples must do not have to look very hard. They just have to receptive towards various medium where subliminal messages are hidden.

Subliminal messages are not easily understood or perceived by a conscious mind. These messages are usually missed by us since we tend to avoid those things that we don’t want to retain in our memory. However, same concept does not get implemented for subliminal messages. Our subconscious mind is able to absorb almost anything, even the slightest of details. And since we remember these details when our sub-conscious mind is active, our conscious mind also gets affected.

Let us learn about some of the subliminal messages examples –

Movies – Nearly every movie has some subliminal messages hidden in them. While some these messages are extremely blatant, others are subtle in understanding. While blatant subliminal messages get understood by our minds as we watch the movie with a conscious mind, the subtle subliminal messages have to be pondered over after perceiving over what has been seen. Some of the subliminal messages examples in the movies are as follows – the use of word “sex” in the movie ‘The Lion King’, appearance of a half-naked woman in the movie ‘The Rescuers’ and concept of an aroused priest in the movie ‘The Little Mermaid’.

Music – There are many subliminal messages in the songs also. One of the examples is song ‘If You Seek Amy’ of Britney Spears. Another example is song ‘Peacock’ of Katy Perry. These titles, when spoken at a rapid speed, sound like an expletive.

Advertising – subliminal messages are very common in advertising world. The advertisers tend to use subliminal messages in the advertisement of their products so that their products or services are easy to remember.

After studying the examples of subliminal messages, we understand that the main purpose of these messages is to alter the way of thinking.