There are advertisements around you all the time. Whether it's blatant product placement in your favorite movie or a roadside billboard, companies are always trying to figure out the best way to market their products to you. And psychology plays arguably the biggest role in figuring this out.
Studies show that what you are shown before making a decision can have an immense impact on the outcome of your decision by influencing how you arrive at a conclusion. For example, a classic study had car buyers browse several options for cars. The researchers changed the background of the screen for participants and found that a green background with pennies made people consider the cost of the car more carefully and that a red background with flames made people consider the safety features of the car more carefully.
Similarly, you are more likely to recognize the word delicious in an advertisement of food if you are visually shown the food before encountering the word than if you were shown, for example, the exterior of the restaurant. Next time you see an advertisement, try to see how the company is influencing your decision and try to make your decision on your own!
Studies show that what you are shown before making a decision can have an immense impact on the outcome of your decision by influencing how you arrive at a conclusion. For example, a classic study had car buyers browse several options for cars. The researchers changed the background of the screen for participants and found that a green background with pennies made people consider the cost of the car more carefully and that a red background with flames made people consider the safety features of the car more carefully.
Similarly, you are more likely to recognize the word delicious in an advertisement of food if you are visually shown the food before encountering the word than if you were shown, for example, the exterior of the restaurant. Next time you see an advertisement, try to see how the company is influencing your decision and try to make your decision on your own!