How do advertisements manipulate people?

Answer 1

Have you ever seen a jeans ad that told you how good they were? Or that even featured jeans? Ever wonder why you pay more than 99 cents for a Starbucks coffee?

Advertisers use a number of techniques that manipulate or entice others. Here are some examples:

Appeal to Authority -- This technique involves either having someone presenting as a professional of some sort, often a doctor, attorney, etc., using statistics of particular professions, or speaking for professionals.

Example: "Nine out of ten doctors recommend Purplanol. If they can trust it, so can you."

Avant-Garde -- This technique involves encouraging others to be the first to try whatever product or service. The consumer can be the envy of others or respected as being brave if they just own the product.

Bandwagon Appeal -- This technique is the opposite of avant garde appeal and snob appeal in that it tries to get you to use a product or service because others do.

Example: "Everyone on your block is driving one of our cars. Don't be left out. Buy one now before this deal ends, and everyone has one but you."

Bribery -- This appeals to basic human greed.

Example: "For a limited time, we're offering free fries with the purchase of a burger."

Card Stacking -- This plays up the positives of a product and ignores the negatives.

Example: "Our snack is fat-free," not mentioning the high sugar content.

Fantasy Transfer -- This type of ad implies that some attribute of someone or something associated with the product will rub off onto them.

Humor -- Humor is used as a diversion and helps associate the product with funny lines or scenes.

Example: A cell phone ad showing someone using it in a toilet stall with the occupant of the next stall answering the cell phone user's questions, with or without their own cell phone. For an added twist, maybe the second person runs out of tissue. Then the announcer could say, "Don't be caught without during a delicate situation, switch to us."

Loaded Terminology -- This uses terms associated with extreme emotions and uses them to attempt to persuade.

Example: "Don't be a loser; vote for John Smith."

Magic Ingredients -- This type of ad promotes the product as having some secret ingredient or special process that gives the product many superior properties.

Example: "Our aspirin has a special coating, making it less likely to cause stomach upset than the other leading brand."

Nostalgia -- This appeals to the past.

Example: "Our spaghetti sauce tastes just like what your grandmother made."

Patriotic Appeal -- This type of ad connects using their product with loving one's own country.

Example: "Our product is proudly made in America, using only American workers."

Plain Folks -- This approach appeals to the notion that their product is used by practical, ordinary people.

Example: The ad may show a typical family sitting to eat their brand of cereal.

Sex Appeal -- Ads of this sort tend to either showcase sexy people using this product, show people succeeding in their romantic conquests because of this product, or the product is promoted as being the solution for your romantic troubles.

Example: "Get your woman to be yours forever with our diamond jewelry."

Example: "Don't go out on a hot date without using our deodorant. With some things, you only get one chance in life."

Simple Solutions -- The approach is that this product avoids complexities and can solve a number of problems or desires.

Example: "Our makeup will help make you popular, attractive, sexy, and happy!"

Snob Appeal -- This is when advertisers try to connect their product, service, or idea with elegant surroundings, exclusivity, or with people who are perceived as being better than others.

A well known example was when Brooke Shields said in an anti-smoking ad: "None of my friends smoke. If you want to be my friend, don't smoke."

Transfer -- This pairs two unrelated things together in an illogical manner to attempt to promote the product.

Example: "Our soldiers fought in wars because they cared about our nation's future. If you care about your family's future, we urge you to see your local agent at Fighters Insurance."

Unreliable Testimony -- This is using unqualified persons to promote a product. The persons used might have an outstanding reputation in another field, just not the relevant field.

Example: "As a starring quarterback, I am concerned about my health and have started taking Nature's First Vitamins."

Vague Terminology -- This involves using very vague, but meaningless terms.

Example: "Try our new and improved product because it is completely organic, all-natural, and is trusted by professionals!"

Answer 2

advertisements manipulate people with there adds that say that everyone does it or when they say that something is wrong and the thing their talking about is good but in reality they are just trying to make you do what they want you to do like does kids play commercials they target fat and overweight children