The slogan "Sex sells" is essentially regarded as fact, and the insertion of sexually suggestive imagery and/or language in commercials for everything from tomato soup to glue speaks to the widespread acceptance of this tactic.
At the same time, advertisers seem to recognize that the statement is not entirely true. It's not merely sex that sells. If so, why doesn't Victoria's Secret parade obese "angels" or octogenarian models to peddle their wares?
I think a more accurate statement is "Hyperbole sells." As Stephen Covey explains in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, people are not motivated by satisfaction. If a desire is met, you don't keep chasing it.
But dangle something in front of a person that speaks to their desires, and offer a product that supposedly satisfies that desire, and now you've got motivation.
Hyperbole is everywhere (see what I did there). It's how we get the oxymoronic "new and improved" and why companies and products boast of being "award winning" even if the award is obscure.
Not surprisingly, even the Bible seems to urge being on guard against the use of hyperbole to deceive:
"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." (2 Peter 2:18; NKJV)
If you don't want to be duped, learn to recognize hyperbole for what it is.
At the same time, advertisers seem to recognize that the statement is not entirely true. It's not merely sex that sells. If so, why doesn't Victoria's Secret parade obese "angels" or octogenarian models to peddle their wares?
I think a more accurate statement is "Hyperbole sells." As Stephen Covey explains in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, people are not motivated by satisfaction. If a desire is met, you don't keep chasing it.
But dangle something in front of a person that speaks to their desires, and offer a product that supposedly satisfies that desire, and now you've got motivation.
Hyperbole is everywhere (see what I did there). It's how we get the oxymoronic "new and improved" and why companies and products boast of being "award winning" even if the award is obscure.
Not surprisingly, even the Bible seems to urge being on guard against the use of hyperbole to deceive:
"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." (2 Peter 2:18; NKJV)
If you don't want to be duped, learn to recognize hyperbole for what it is.