Mediabully here, giving you the inside scoop on the effects of TV on the brain. So the question I wanted to ask everyone is if media institutions in our society are puppeteers to all of us? Many come to the conclusion that TV puts its viewers in a hypnotic state which provides easy access for subconscious interference. When watching television the brain switches from the left side to the right side; the left side of the brain is logical thought and the right side of the brain encompasses an emotional response.
Can you think of the last time you went to a fast food restaurant, for instance? Do you think the media told you to go there? Maybe specifically which restaurant to go to as well as what food item to buy? Advertisers use hypnosis to entice their consumers to buy their products. The way they can do this is because behaviors are based on emotions and NOT based on logic. As you have read in the previous paragraph, I’ve mentioned that when watching TV your brain switches from using the left side to the right which makes hypnosis possible. We all know the fast food chain McDonalds which features a cheerful clown. By pairing the stimuli of the cheerful clown which elicits happy feelings of laughter and joy with the stimuli of an unrelated object such as a cheeseburger, the consumer will want to purchase the cheeseburger because of the emotional connection it brings.
I’m curious to hear what you guys have on the matter. Who’s the puppet master of your life the moment you’re inadvertently off-duty… besides your mother? Drop a comment below on the subject or drop a comment if you just want to say 'hi' and tell me how your day was… what-evs.
Anywho, Until next time… Hasta La Vista!
Mediabully signing out
You raise an interesting case with your analogy on fast food, supported by the assertion that behaviour is based on emotion and not on logic. While I do agree to an extent that the media does "make me want to go" to a fast food restaurant, could it also be that it is because I have some inkling for fast food in the first place? As appealing as the media may be in influencing my decisions, there is still a calculated exercise of reason before I make the decision whether or not to submit to the media's influence. In this sense, perhaps it can be argued that the media's influence exacerbates one's decision making process, instead of necessarily making a decision on behalf of the individual.
ReplyDeleteMediabully!! I'm glad that you brought up the emotional aspect of decision making such as choosing to eat a cheeseburger at McDonald's :)because it DOES indeed have great influence on the public including myself. While I do agree that emotional aspects do stimulate curiosity and willingness to try things that appeal to you there is also a part of me that thinks that each individual has their own family and health awareness. One may be more reluctant to purchase a cheeseburger due to the poor health consequences that come with junk food. Age also makes a difference when it comes to a clown appealing to elementary school while an adult would more than likely choose panera bread as a more healthy choice due to the less grease and fat that a fast food restaurant such as McDonald's or Burger King would contain. The popularity of media's advertisements and songs can affect one's decision making due to the catchy phrases and jingles that are associated with purchases.
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