Wednesday, January 28, 2009 

Memory and Marketing

Memory research has been a focus by some cognitive scientists, and autobiographical memory, effects on autobiographical memory, and false memories are of particular interest. Sigmund Freud believed that "repressed" memories of traumatic events in childhood had a effect on adult behavior and problems. He focused much of this therapy and research on the early childhood memories. In Kentucky Lemon Laws he learned that patients fantasized many of their childhood experiences based on suggestions of his.

Marketers have long relied on autobiographical memory to persuade the buying public to purchase their products. They use cues to prod people to remember their past and experience a level of nostalgia that is pleasant to anchor that pleasant memory to their product. Marketing researchers have focused on how branded items may be associated with past consumer experiences. However, there has been little research on the influence these products have on our memory.

Memory is constructive; it is constantly refinancing student loan updated to fit current self-knowledge and self-concept. Upon repeated viewing of autobiographically based commercials, rather than fact-based ones, consumers may unwittingly incorporate images from the advertising into their childhood memories. As time passes, there is a great likelihood that this information may be used to reconstruct and distort the memory the ad was intended to trigger.

Braun, Ellis, and Loftis (2001) found that about 25% of adult memories could be swayed into believing that an event had occurred by asking them to imagine the event (being lost in a mall and being found by an elderly person, and spilling the punchbowl at a wedding). Time lapse strengthened the associated memory, such that asking two weeks later whether the event had occurred had a quarter of these people responding, "Yes."

It has been found that 90% vs. 46% of a control group "remembered" shaking hands with Mickey Mouse after seeing an advertising to that effect ("Remember the Magic," campaign) surrounding memories of a childhood trip to Disney World during childhood. Additionally, autobiographical recall of specific occurrences increased. More were able to recall hearing "It's a Small World" or going on "cool rides" after reading the ad. A significant increase in the use of the word "magical" was reported. With these results, it is possible that the ad may have implanted this memory in consumer minds.

In testing of false information, consumers can be made to believe that an event that has not occurred, has, using autobiographical styled advertising featuring Bugs Bunny (Warner Brothers) and Ariel from The Little Mermaid (Disney, but from a much later period of time than the critical before 10 years of age), and a non-autobiographical ad about a new ride at the park and ordering discount tickets via the web. Findings suggested that participants significantly recalled meeting and shaking hands with Bugs or Ariel more for the autobiographical versus the non-autobiographical ad.

Most people are under the assumption that memory is a permanent store and various techniques (e.g. hypnosis) can be used to tax debt relief this store. This is not true. Many advertisers are digging into their vaults and presenting nostalgia to enhance sales (e.g. Werther's remembrances of this candy being given or purchased as a child and Ovaltine being poured by mom). The enhance memories of having these products as a child. Is this ethical? It is certainly unlikely that advertisers would deliberately create false memories of a negative childhood experience, but consumers should be aware of the power ads have to alter memory.

Reference:

Braun, K. A., Ellis, R., & Loftus, E.F. (2001). Making my memory: How advertising can change our memories. Psychology & Marketing.

Cheryl L. McKinzie, M.S., M.A, LPCI

McKinzieCounselingMcKinzieCounseling

 

Short Term Memory Loss Cure For People With Memory Problems

The brain, just like any other part of the body needs a workout to keep itself healthy. Many people suffering from short term memory loss find car insurance price that medication is not a great solution to better brain health. Just like the muscles in the arm can be made stronger by exercising, we can exercise the brain to have better memory.

One simple method to improve brain's memory is to try to remember 10 digit phone numbers and recall it. Memory power is essentially recalling power. Scientists say that a human records every minute of his life. The only problem is that different people have different powers of recalling it.

For example if car insurance price are calling your friend. Don't just click the contact in the mobile phone, instead you can memorize the 10 digit phone number and reproduce it after a few minutes. This may seem silly at first, but this can improve your memory power significantly if practiced continuously for months.

If the problem of short term memory loss persists, home refinancing information advanced memory games are recommended. You can go to your nearby book store and buy a puzzle book which may contain some memory games.

Whatever the exercise may be, practice is the only cure to memory loss. If you are already suffering from some memory problems, you may want to get started with a daily schedule of playing games for 1 hour per day. If you think you are healthy right now, a few minutes per day will free you from the worries of memory loss in old age.

But trust me, it is not easy to commit to a game which is in a puzzle book. I have got some serious improvement in my memory after I started playing Scientifically designed brain games at MemoryGames.bizMemoryGames.biz - May be you should try it too!

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