Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Pocket (1984), Edition: Updated, 288 pages
Description
An account of the motivation research people, the advertising agency psychologists who analyze consumer desires and find out how to make people buy the things the agencies are paid to promote. Personalities, techniques, symbols, and approaches are discussed and some of the leading ad psychologists are interviewed.
User reviews
LibraryThing member P_S_Patrick
Vance Packard’s “The Hidden Persuaders” presents an overview of the psychological research done by the advertising industry, which it uses to influence us, often subconsciously, to think we want their products.
This trend for in-depth psychological research, as opposed to more traditional
This is a fascinating volume not merely from the point of view of understanding human nature and the unexpected psychological factors behind common purchasing decisions, but also because of the prevalence of advertising and consumerism and the need to be on guard against the ubiquitous manipulations of companies trying to gain the upper hand. Recommended reading for anyone with an interest in psychology, business, or society.
This trend for in-depth psychological research, as opposed to more traditional
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market research and statistical analysis, has been growing since the 1940s. It has influenced the bulk of society to a vast degree in creating false wants and has expanded the economy so that products are not merely sold to fulfil demands, but demands are created to sell products. It has done this in a way that traditional marketing based on the assumption that the consumer was a rational entity could not, by leveraging the subconscious. Much of the research that has gone into this is quite clever and interesting to read about. This is a fascinating volume not merely from the point of view of understanding human nature and the unexpected psychological factors behind common purchasing decisions, but also because of the prevalence of advertising and consumerism and the need to be on guard against the ubiquitous manipulations of companies trying to gain the upper hand. Recommended reading for anyone with an interest in psychology, business, or society.
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LibraryThing member edwin.gleaves
One of the first books to open our eyes to what advertisers were doing to us.
LibraryThing member Ibreak4books
Everything old is new again...I highly recommend this book to anyone who believes that "you are your own man"(as it were).
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Now it is somewhat dated. The original was, after all, published in 1957; the edition I read had an epilogue and introduction from 1981, updating things slightly. Still a lot of the general comments and the large picture rings a lot of warning bells in my skull. I actually found it more chilling
This looks at how we are sold things, how things are packaged to attract and to encourage us to enter into a unthinking mode of living. Allowing the advertising to wash us up on the aisles of shops reaching for foods and goods that we will later bin. You can see how the advertising machine both misjudges and adapts to other societies.
It warns us that we need to stop accepting and be active consumers, thinking about the products we're sold and whether or not we need them or if they are of any real use to us nutritionally or otherwise. However as this book is over 50 years old and we're still behaving in the same ways we also need to ask if the general public really want to learn the lessons in this book, but that's where it gets scary.
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than any horror book I've read. This looks at how we are sold things, how things are packaged to attract and to encourage us to enter into a unthinking mode of living. Allowing the advertising to wash us up on the aisles of shops reaching for foods and goods that we will later bin. You can see how the advertising machine both misjudges and adapts to other societies.
It warns us that we need to stop accepting and be active consumers, thinking about the products we're sold and whether or not we need them or if they are of any real use to us nutritionally or otherwise. However as this book is over 50 years old and we're still behaving in the same ways we also need to ask if the general public really want to learn the lessons in this book, but that's where it gets scary.
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LibraryThing member Madamxtra
Although I read this book many years ago, it stuck inside my head like an old familiar tune that you can’t quite place and are not sure of the words. Time and again the book’s message has resurfaced in terms like “Planned Obsolescence,” while watching the movie, “Mom & Dad – staring
Recently, I’ve begun speaking out against companies that would rather toss their unsold goods into landfills, rather than selling them at reduced prices or donating them to worthy charities/causes. Many “Big-Name” stores are notorious for this practice and consumers are just becoming aware of the effects: Food, Clothing, Books, Appliances, Electronics and more – all thrown away when they go unsold – as new models are unpacked for the shelves and racks.
I have forgone the “Rat Race,” choosing a simple life of working from my home-office, here, on my farm – where very little is ever thrown away and we are continuously learning new ways to recycle, re-purpose and reuse.
But my question remains – what can I do to change this wasteful practice when I see it taking place? How can I help others understand the brainwashing efforts of marketers without sounding fanatical?
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Nickolas Cage” and whenever I found myself using a disposable item. Recently, I’ve begun speaking out against companies that would rather toss their unsold goods into landfills, rather than selling them at reduced prices or donating them to worthy charities/causes. Many “Big-Name” stores are notorious for this practice and consumers are just becoming aware of the effects: Food, Clothing, Books, Appliances, Electronics and more – all thrown away when they go unsold – as new models are unpacked for the shelves and racks.
I have forgone the “Rat Race,” choosing a simple life of working from my home-office, here, on my farm – where very little is ever thrown away and we are continuously learning new ways to recycle, re-purpose and reuse.
But my question remains – what can I do to change this wasteful practice when I see it taking place? How can I help others understand the brainwashing efforts of marketers without sounding fanatical?
Show Less
LibraryThing member mykl-s
This book gave me a very useful understanding, and distrust, of all sorts of advertising.
Subjects
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — Nonfiction — 1958)
Notable Books List (1957)
David Bowie's Top 100 (1957)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1957
Physical description
288 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0671531492 / 9780671531492