Since Ancient Greece, researchers theorised about the existence of subliminal perception. After being the willing hijack victim of Science Fiction, subliminal perception remains very misunderstood. The internet is awash with strange misinformation from seemingly authoritative sources.
During the late 1980s, a lot of clinical research was produced that showed subliminal messaging to be a potential treatment of anxiety related conditions and an effective self-help tool for enhancing natural aptitude.
Unlike Western chemical medicines, researchers could not demonstrate how subliminal messages work. It was only when the subliminal messages were observed in action using MRI technology that a full and credible argument could be made (Kouider, Dehaene, Jobert & Le Bihan, 2007).
Research had demonstrated how subliminal messages are unconsciously received and processed as words within the brain (Malik, Krasney, Aldworth & Ladd, 1996). Research shifted from proving the reality of subliminal perception to seeking methods to enhance its effectiveness.
So how does subliminal messaging work? Let us explore the process using the example of weight loss programming. Here, subliminal messages are designed to change an individual's relationship with food and alter the emotional triggers of excessive calorie intake.
These are disguised to the listener's conscious mind, through either video and/or audio manipulation. The reason for this is to bypass the conscious mind. The conscious mind, to be useful to man, is very critical and inflexible. It enjoys being right and thinking through things rationally and logically.
If it were told "Hey you're healthy now," it will draw on evidence to support or refute the assertion. It may well reply, "You can't just say that. I always eat too much Pizza. Hey, you don't even know me!"
The unconscious mind in contrast is capable of a far broader perception - it sees and hears far more information. It need not be selective of the information it receives as it can process a lot more of it per second. By exploiting loopholes in conscious perception, affirmations are not decoded consciously but freely enter the ever welcoming unconscious mind unhindered. Through repetition, the unconscious mind begins to accept the affirmations and explore new decision sets and new ways of thinking. The unconscious mind draws upon its lateral thinking, flexibility and creativity to interpret the information it is presented with.
But it is here where the misinformation creeps in. Subliminal perception does not trigger a magical process whereby an individual can listen to the programming then automatically shed the pounds. Cognition, like voyages of discovery and home cooking cannot be outsourced. In truth, subliminal perception only refers to the one way communication of information.
Information received through subliminal perception is no more in control of behaviour, than the unconscious world of dreams. The decisions which lead to life changes remain firmly in the territory of the conscious mind and are part of the normal decision making process.
So if subliminal messages do not control behaviour - what's going on? Understanding what is going on requires a little more subtlety. Subliminal programming such as those produced by Subliminal Today are aimed at alter decision sets and reinforcing through affirmation, specific aspects of self-perception.
In order to achieve this, NLP is used to crystallise a complete and meaningful idea by addressing a cluster of related concepts. In our weight loss example, these may be healthy living, natural food, longevity, benefits of feeling healthier and the route to achieving the associated positive emotions.
In essence the messages convince us at unconscious to consider "Hey, I am a healthy person, and capable of making healthy decisions." This idea is held 'front of mind' long enough for the individual begins to make healthier decisions more often. The mind has an opportunity to observe these new tendencies, feel good about the choices made, experience the benefits and consciously choose to alter self-perception. There is no stronger psychological principle than Cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am.
Kouider, S., Dehaene, S., Jobert, A., & Le Bihan, D. (2007) Cerebral Bases of Subliminal and Supraliminal Priming during Reading. Cerebral Cortex, 17, 2019 - 2029.
Malik R., Krasney M.S., Aldworth, B., & Ladd H.W. (1996). Effects of subliminal symbiotic stimuli on anxiety reduction. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 6, 771-784.
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