How to Persuade People Using Covert Subliminal Signals

Subliminal messages are powerful tools for persuasion. Many studies show how powerful they are. One study conducted in the 1950s found that Coca-Cola increased its sales by 57% when it placed ads near movie theaters. Another study found that the presence of a particular message enhanced the performance of college students on final exams.

Subliminal messages are often used in advertising. Companies and industries spend billions of dollars on advertising every year. Millions are spent studying which colors, fonts, and physical placement work best. Even the age and gender of actors in advertisements are manipulated.

Another powerful technique is mirroring. This involves mimicking a person's body language. The goal is to create empathy. Some common mirroring methods include leaning forward and various arm and head movements. To be effective, mirroring must be subtle and delayed by two to four seconds.

While there are numerous ways to persuade people using subliminal messaging, it is most effective when it taps into an existing need or desire. If the person does not feel a need or goal, the influence will be too short, lasting as little as 25 minutes. Therefore, using a subliminal ad in a store is unlikely to be effective.

Subliminal messages have been used for decades to influence people's behavior. They have even been used in movies to increase their sales. But the effectiveness of this technique is still questioned. There is not enough evidence to confirm its effects on human behavior.

If you are interested in learning more about how to manipulate people, this book may be of interest. Cialdini, a psychology professor at Arizona State University, has made a name for himself by counseling everyday people on the use of manipulation. He even offers advice on how to become a manipulator. His new book is aimed at people who are looking to become more influential.

A common example of a covert subliminal message is a musical or video message. The Beatles, for example, used the backmasking technique in their songs. In Rubber Soul and Rain, they used backmasking to get a message across.