Talk:The Hidden Persuaders

"Subliminal"
Really, Mr. Packard spends almost no time at all talking about 'subliminal' tactics. That word was made ridiculous by Mr. Brian Wilson Key's overactive imagination, and the kinds of things discussed in Mr. Key's books were only briefly touched upon in Mr. Packard's.

Packard wrote mainly about 'depth marketing' (and 'motivation research', which is really an overlapping term). It has little to do with the use of subliminal techniques like sub-audible messages, single-frames in a motion picture, backward 'masking', or embedded words or images in photographs (like Key's infamous 'clam-plate orgy'). Depth marketing is more subtle and less gimmicky. It relies on studies that probe consumers' hidden fears and wishes, and tries to find subtle ways to appeal to people on those bases in generally non-'subliminal' ways. --Nehushtan 04:15, 10 April 2006 (UTC)


 * Nehushtan, I agree with you, and will modify the article accordingly. BTW the subliminal author is Wilson Bryan Key.  --Lockley 20:45, 13 April 2006 (UTC)