Subliminal messaging became very popular in the late 20th Century when methods of embedding verbal subliminal messages in an audio program and putting them on cassette were developed. Later this was adapted to CD production. The technique is still used today, with many audio tapes and CDs being produced.
Many people are confused by the process, what is does and how it works. This article explains the basics of the technology and how it can be used for motivational self-perception and behavioral modification. The article does not discuss the pitfalls of this method, but only explains the method as it is designed to work under the best conditions.
(ClydeSight Productions’ Brain Wave Stimulating Digital Subliminal Perception Programs featuring: Activator Phrase™ are NOT audio subliminal message programs. Instead, they use a new subliminal messaging method, VISUAL and brain wave stimulation via a computer program that runs in silence. They are based on scientific research into the most effective use of the VISUAL subliminal message technique and are advised by Boston area hypnothearpist John Murray.)
The Audio Subliminal Message (tapes and CDs) Method and Purpose
An audio subliminal message program (tape or CD) sends verbal messages to the listener underneath or within a “masking sound”. The purpose is to get the information to the listener’s unconscious mind free of conscious interference, decision and judgment.
The masking sound provides a distraction, something the conscious mind is focused on. The subliminal message embedded within the masking sound is perceived, but the conscious mind does not focus on it. Therefore it gets to the unconscious mind free of any judgment or decision. Since the unconscious mind stores all information in memory, the subliminally perceived information is also stored in memory.
The Audio Subliminal Message (tapes and CDs) Technique
There are two components to an audio subliminal message program:
- The masking sound and
- the subliminal message
The masking sound is the “cover story”, what the conscious mind perceives and focuses on. It can be music, ocean waves, nature sounds, or white or pink noise.
Scientific studies have compared these masking methods for effectiveness. Each has been found to have pros and cons relating to their effectiveness as a mask. Manufacturers are sensitive to this and produce audio subliminal message tapes and CDs using different masking methods as a USP, or Unique Selling Point. But there is no concrete scientific validation for one method over another. There are too many variables to pin it down. Studies continue and it is quite possible that any of the techniques, under the right circumstances can be as effective as any other.
The subliminal message is dubbed into the “mask” sound using a number of different processing methods, sound equalization, acceleration and formant processing and other audio techniques. This makes the subliminal message “embedded” in the mask sound and difficult to consciously perceive. The theory is that the message can be perceived unconsciously because it is verbal and therefore different from the masking sound.
Scientific studies have examined this theory and found support in some cases for the embedded message technique, with validated and replicable results. However, much depends on the quality of the sound processing and again, manufacturers are sensitive to this, using one or another processing technique as a USP. Studies continue and it is quite possible that any of the processing techniques, under the right circumstances can be as effective as any other.
The Audio Subliminal Message (tapes and CDs) Usage
Part of the appeal of audio subliminal message tapes is that they can be played in many situations, thus the listener does not have to dedicate any special time to listen. The listener can have the program playing in the background while engaged in other activities and the theory is that the subliminal messages will get through and have an effect. The idea that one can play the tape at any time is an appeal to consumer convenience.
However, scientific studies have found little support for this approach because the variables of life experience can interfere with the audio program’s effectiveness and even its perception. In almost all studies, it was found that when the listener dedicated time to hear the audio subliminal perception program rather than listened to it as a background, it had greater effect. It is simple to understand this.
Suppose you are playing an audio subliminal message tape while talking on the phone. The effectiveness is reduced because one ear cannot hear the tape at all, it is listening to the phone conversation. Since people rarely have the same level of hearing in both ears, this can be detrimental to the effectiveness of the subliminal program.
In another example, suppose you are playing the tape in the background while vacuuming the floor. A vacuum cleaner is a very loud device. In this situation, your ears can be bombarded with too much information, and thus the subliminal program will have almost no effect.
Subliminal tapes can be played while the listener is asleep. In this situation, the effect is akin to hypnosis because the listener is in a very relaxed state (asleep) and there is almost nothing to interfere with perception of the program. We all hear when we sleep (this is why alarm clocks wake us up). However, many people sleep on their sides. If the subliminal program is played through speakers, not headphones, one ear will not be able to hear the program since it is on the pillow. Headphones may work as an alternative, but they can fall off as the listener tosses and turns during sleep.
Manufacturers are sensitive to this and many advise dedicating time to listen to the subliminal tape rather than playing it in the background while doing other things.
The Audio Subliminal Message (tapes and CDs) Delivery
Subliminal messages on audio tapes and CDs are usually designed for self-motivation and ultimately behavioral modification which results from the motivation. They are often referred to as “affirmations” and usually contain positive content that boosts self-esteem or other psychological self-perceptions. They can be used to alter unconscious perception about an experience, thus they can be used to modify habits and lifestyle, such as eating, smoking, anger management and so on.
Subliminal messaging that is delivered via the tape or CD and masking sound rely on repetition for effectiveness. The logic is simple. The more often a message is perceived, the more significance it will have in the unconscious mind. Therefore, when an experience occurs where the content of the message can have an association, the unconscious mind will take the repeated subliminal message information as a reaction, rather than other information which has a lower significance.
Human speech has a tempo, a time factor in delivery. We can perceive speech at different rates. If someone speaks very quickly, we can understand them unconsciously, although we may have difficulty understanding them consciously. Some audio subliminal message tapes and CDs use a form of speech compression to speed up the delivery of verbal information.
A cassette tape has a fixed time length (30, 60, 90 minutes) and CDs are set to 74 and 80 minutes. This places a limit on the time in which the subliminal messages can be verbally delivered and affects the number of messages and their repetitions available in a program.
For example, consider a subliminal message that says: “I am a capable and successful person.” At normal human speech rate, this takes about 2 seconds of real time. Since there must be a time lag between repeats of the message (otherwise they would all run together and be meaningless), we’ll provide a one second gap between the messages. Now the message occupies 3 seconds of time.
The math is simple. In this example, we’ll use one side of a 60 minute cassette tape (many subliminal message tapes come with two programs, an hypnosis program on one side, and a subliminal message program on the other.)
We have 30 minutes in which to deliver the affirmation: “I am a capable and successful person.” as many times as possible.
There are 60 seconds in a minute. 60 divided by 3 = 20. Therefore, in one minute of time, our subliminal message can be delivered 20 times.
20 repetitions in a minute times 30 minutes = 600.
Therefore, the subliminal message can be perceived 600 times in a single listening of 30 minutes.
If a program uses speech compression (2:1), that number can be increased to 1,200.
This is how manufacturers of audio subliminal message tapes and CD’s can say their product contains thousands of messages.
It is a little confusing though.
All audio subliminal message tapes and CDs contain a list of messages or affirmations, some as few as ten, some as many as 30. Let’s go with the 30 messages and run the numbers again.
Since in our example the cassette can only contain 1,200 repetitions of a 2 second verbal message (counting for the 1 second silence gap), and the affirmation “I am a capable and successful person.” is one of 30 affirmations or messages, it can only occur a maximum of 1,200 divided by 30 = 40 times in one listening.
Yes, the program contains 1,200 messages, but each is only repeated 40 times in a listening.
However, the content of the subliminal messages on a given topic (i.e. self-esteem) all target the same thing. So one affirmation may say “I am a capable and successful person.” while another may say “I know that I am a capable and successful person.” and yet another may say “I fully believe that I am a capable and successful person.” These three messages all convey the same CORE meaning (being capable and successful) , with different emphasis: AM, KNOW, BELIEVE, all of which are human experiences.
Given that the 30 messages on the tape can only be repeated 40 times, the three CORE messages mentioned above can have 3 X 40 repetitions. Therefore, in our example, 120 messages of the CORE “capable and successful” affirmation are delivered in a single listening.
While these numbers may seem disappointing, one must consider that all the affirmations in the program target the same goal, using different wording and that people rarely listen to a subliminal message tape or CD only once. Therefore, there are still 1,200 self-esteem affirmations delivered.
In fact almost all manufacturers recommend listening once a day every day for several weeks. So, over time, the messages build significance in the unconscious mind due to their repetitive nature. The unconscious mind does not know the concept of time. So if a message “I am a capable and successful person” is stored today, and then it is stored three days from now, all the unconscious mind considers is the number of occurrences of the message, not the time gap between them.
The Audio Subliminal Message (tapes and CDs) Conclusion
Subliminal messages on audio tapes and CDs can be highly effective in stimulating emotional and behavioral change. The technology that delivers these messages and creates the programs is highly detailed and many processes are trade secrets of their manufacturers.
Scientific studies of these products and methods have found that under the right circumstances and usage, some of these programs can be highly effective. However, there are many variables that influence the outcome and there is no method that can be proven to be more effective than another. Human beings and their lives are highly variable, so it is entirely possible that no single method will ever be developed that has the quality of “one size fits all.”
This article has explained the basics behind the audio subliminal message tapes and CDs so that the reader can better understand these fascinating products and what they are trying to accomplish, and thus make a more informed decision when considering a purchase.
(ClydeSight Productions’ Brain Wave Stimulating Digital Subliminal Perception Programs featuring: Activator Phrase™ use a completely different approach to subliminal messaging. They deliver content VISUALLY in SILENCE via the computer desktop. Scientific studies have found the visual method to be an equally, and sometimes more effective method of delivering subliminal messages to the unconscious mind compared to audio presentation. You can read more about visual subliminal message programs here.)
