The scientific study of subliminal perception has been going on since the end of the 19th Century. Scientific measuring techniques developed in the 20th Century increased the ability to understand this phenomenon. Nevertheless, many myths abound about subliminal perception and subliminal messages and what they can and cannot do. This article explores some of the myths.
(This article is an extract from an article on Subliminal Message techniques published by Clydesight Productions. It can be viewed here: http://clydesight.com/DSPP/subworks.html)
Subliminal persuasion and subliminal perception are the same thing and amount to “mind control”.
MYTH!
Scientific studies have found that subliminal persuasion, as sensationalized in some books and conspiracy theories, does not have any significant effect on anyone. Subliminal perception, when self administered for behavioral change, has been found to be effective under the right conditions. There is no such thing as “mind control”. There is such a thing as stupidity and foolishness.
Subliminal persuasion is an attempt to alter a person’s behavior by sending unsolicited messages below the level of consciousness. Subliminal perception is a naturally occurring experience of perceiving information but ignoring the content consciously, thus passing it on to the unconscious mind.
Subliminal persuasion (i.e. “mind control”) is prone to too many uncontrollable variables to work. Ignorance and susceptibility to consciously perceived suggestions that have an emotional appeal or promise of a benefit (i.e. Sign up and make $50,000 NOW) – which is stupidity – accounts for many accusations of “mind control”. Con artists and political manipulators have used such techniques effectively for centuries. This is not mind control.
When used properly by motivated individuals, subliminal perception can help them affect a DESIRED behavioral change. It must be done under the right conditions in order to work. Scientific studies have identified effective subliminal perception techniques that must be carefully managed and controlled. Any subliminal perception technique that does not fall within the limits will not have any significant effect. Many subliminal perception programs are based on the hype of the topic rather than the science, rendering them useless.
The timing of messages in a Subliminal Perception Program MUST be 1/24th of a second.
MYTH!
There have been thousands of university and hospital studies on the proper and effective timing of the exposure of a subliminal message. Studies have found a range of effective exposure times, measured in milliseconds, to be effective.
The 1/24th second myth was started by the famous “Buy Popcorn” scam in the 1950’s. At the time, some theaters were embedding a “buy popcorn” frames into theatrical movie releases in an effort to increase concession sales. The movie ran at 24 frames per second, so the single frame was exposed for 1/24th of a second. The idea was started by a marketer whose business was failing. He created false scientific reports about the effectiveness of the concept. Later, he admitted that the entire thing was faked in an effort to boost his marketing sales.
Later this was sensationalized in two books, “The Hidden Persuaders” and “Subliminal Seduction”. Both authors were advertising executives, NOT scientists. Of the thousands of scientific studies done on this topic, NONE found the embedded movie frame technique to have any significant effect on movie viewer’s behavior.
The greater the number of subliminal messages in a program, the more effective it is.
MYTH!
Scientific studies have found that quantity does not replace quality. A few highly targeted and motivating subliminal messages have been found to be more effective than a large number of meaningless ones.
The quality of a subliminal message (often called an “affirmation”) makes a difference in unconscious impact. “I feel good” is not an effective subliminal message because it is not targeted to an experience or behavior. “I feel good when I am smoke free” is a much higher quality subliminal message because it is targeted to a specific experience and behavior. A million repetitions of a meaningless phrase will do nothing to alter behavior.
The government (CIA) etc.) has embedded subliminal messages in TV signals as a means to control the population.
MYTH!
There is absolutely NO evidence to support such a claim. The CIA and other governmental agencies have funded scientific studies to discover any potential value in embedded subliminal messaging for the purpose of subliminal persuasion. The results have been negligible due to the many uncontrollable variables that affect subliminal messaging.
Conspiracy theory hypes various governmental attempts to control the population via subliminal persuasion (which is not the same as subliminal perception– read the FAQS page). This is simply sensationalist and alarmist. The population is much more affected and swayed by standard persuasion techniques – public speaking, political advertising and so on. General ignorance in the population, laziness and a failure to understand issues and act on them or use democratic methods to our own benefit accounts for poor government, not subliminal persuasion.
Audio subliminal message tapes and CDs are more effective than visual subliminal message programs.
MYTH!
Scientific studies have found that quantity is still king in this area. Some audio subliminal message programs can be highly effective, but it depends on a number of factors, including the ability to actually perceive the audio message beneath the “masking sound”. The delivery system, audio or visual, is not as important as the ability to perceive and the quality of the messages.
Audio subliminal message programs have been around a great deal longer than visual subliminal perception programs because video technology has lagged behind audio technology in the consumer market. The myth is therefore that audio programs are more effective.
Computer Subliminal Program users should be able to control the program, the message placement, the timing etc. because this is a “feature”
MYTH!
Scientific studies have found that the LESS involved a user of a subliminal program is with its function and content, the MORE effective it is.
There are many critical factors in a subliminal messaging program that must be in place to achieve effectiveness. Allowing program users to adjust these factors can ruin the program for them. It is akin to allowing drivers to adjust the timing belt on their cars. A subliminal perception computer program is not an end user creative or entertainment tool, it is serious business that is best left in the hands of a proper developer who has diligently followed scientific research.
Here is an example. Suppose you have a subliminal perception computer program that allows you to set the font to any size you like, in any color. Suppose you choose blue type. Then you run the program. It displays messages on top of whatever program you are running. Suppose that program uses a blue background. How can you perceive blue type superimposed on a blue background? You’d receive NO perception.
Suppose again that you are using the same program and one of the subliminal messages it sends over and over is: “I am happy”. You are working on a word processing document for work, something you had to take home because there simply was not enough time to get the work done during the workday. On top of that, you spent two hours typing information and the program freezes up, losing your work. All the while, you are being sent that subliminal message “I am happy”. But you are NOT happy, you just lost all your work! This creates cognitive dissonance, rendering the subliminal affirmation useless.
Be careful of programs that defy common sense simply to provide you with features that are meaningless.
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