Subliminal Perception Subliminal perception is a signal or message embedded in another object, designed to pass below the normal limits of perception. These messages are not discernible to the conscious mind, but presumably influence the subconscious or deeper mind. Subliminal techniques have occasionally been used in advertising, but the purpose, effectiveness, and frequency of such techniques are debated. There is evidence, however, that stimulation below a person's level of conscious awareness can be shown to have effects on some aspects of behavior. Following my research on subliminal perception, I have come to the conclusion that it is used in advertising, but I am not sure to what extent. Companies like KFC and McDonald's use subliminal perception embedded in food and money, but the vast majority of subliminal perception messaging campaigns use "sex" to create awareness. After flipping through a dozen or more magazines, something seemed different about the Harley Davidson ad in front of me. Even though it wasn't clear to me at first, the word “Sex” became very obvious to me. I think it's a long shot, that this could just be a coincidence. Starting with a capital S and going horizontally, you find the word subconscious. This print ad comes from Maxim magazine, and there is plenty of prior information linking Maxim and Harley Davidson to subliminal advertising. Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning in everyday life is extremely common. In the context of consumer behavior, classical conditioning primarily influences emotional behavior. Classical Conditioning is defined as a process by which a neutral stimulus becomes capable of eliciting a res... middle of paper... with this advertisement, using a young married couple who are moving into the same household. Additionally, the ad says, “Every relationship needs to have a little bit of reality, like agreeing on a budget.” This is clearly targeted at newly married couples, who share the buyer's influence. Generational Influence The method of marketing aimed at a specific generation is influencing the way we market and sell products. Different generations have different consumption characteristics, which allows marketers to target specific segments. There are four common generational categories that marketing focuses on. They include: • Gray market, currently 66+ years old • Boomers, currently 49-66 years old • GenXers, currently 28-48 years old • Millennials, currently 7-27 years old To be successful using generational marketing, you need to convey a meaningful message