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  • MONDAY AUGUST 23 2010 3:10 AM

What You Want Is NOT What You Think!

Submitted by Nahp

Edited by SG_Blog

Tags: Blog, Society, branding, psychology

by Nahp Suicide

Have you ever wondered why you feel attracted to some things, products or people? There is a famous quote by Leonardo da Vinci: “Nothing fools us more than our own judgement”. Can this be true? Let’s see…



If McDonald’s were to ask customers what they prefer to eat, maybe they’ll say salad or healthy food; that was what this fast food restaurant did here in Colombia, and after those kind of answers they introduced a new line of healthy and delicious salads. Meanwhile Burger King makes a new Whopper with extra cheese and extra bacon and guess what… McDonalds decreased its sales 30% after asking customers directly and Burger King doubled its sales… proving people really don’t know what they want, and is proven by studies that most of our decisions are taken not by reason but by two parts of our brains (emotional and “animal” sides).

The human Brain is divided in 3 parts:


  • 1. it’s named “Cortex Brain”, it refers to the functional, logical and analytical and it is what makes you give answers as an example of the salad.

  • 2. it’s named “Limbic Brain”, and some people says this is the women’s brain because it refers to the emotional and sensations. When you take decisions based on your heart, you are really using this part of your brain.

  • 3. “Reptilian Brain”, Man’s brain and it refers to survival, reproduction, domination, defend and protect, that’s why we believe guys are thinking about sex all the time, they are just using this part of his brain!… did you remember Zinedine Zidane and the last game on the final World’s Cup before his retire?? he just gave a headbutt to Materazzi, because he said some very harsh words against his family and at that moment Zidane used his “Reptilian Brain” protecting his family, maybe if he had used his “Cortex Brain” using the reason and thinking about final game, he shouldn’t have done.


All our decisions are based on symbol codes and we use some parts of the brain depending on the situation, so next time you see ads think about it, because brands are taking advantage of your subconscious to reach those parts of your brain that make you choose and buy them!!

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Comments
MissMay

MissMay

HOPEFUL

Dayton, OH

AUG 23, 2010 06:21 PM

People eat with their eyes. That's one thing I've learned.

kittenmigration

kittenmigration

Fairbanks, AK
February 2010

AUG 23, 2010 06:46 PM

Related to brains - MRI shows getting dumped is like a serious cocaine jones


The pain and anguish of rejection by a romantic partner may be the result of activity in parts of the brain associated with motivation, reward and addiction cravings, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.


more

bonfirejeff

bonfirejeff

San Diego, CA
June 2007

AUG 23, 2010 06:51 PM

Your Limbic System is that part of your brain that controls the 4 F's. Feeding, fighting, fleeing, and mating. ( use your imagination for that fourth F ) it is the control center for fear and emotions of survival. This is considered the womans part of the brain ? I'll have to think long and hard about that, all the time wondering why is it that this section sits between both lobes and the cortex of both men and women.
I do believe that people answer most questions the way that they believe others would find acceptable, instead of the way that they really want to. We live in a PC society with an over abundance of peer pressure. Wouldn't life be easier if we could all just tell the truth, and if we could just accept the truth within ourselves.

Tallboy___66

Tallboy___66

Chicago, IL
December 2009

AUG 23, 2010 07:04 PM

I know what I want and what I need but somehow those don't seem to go together.

grayness

grayness

USA
January 2006

AUG 23, 2010 08:12 PM

There's also one simple fact: people lie.


I think people know exactly what they want... they just lie about it.

Jomni

Jomni

Orlando, FL
December 2009

AUG 23, 2010 08:43 PM

deep confused

Robstradamus

Robstradamus

Redwood City, CA
January 2010

AUG 23, 2010 09:49 PM

SOOOO TRUE!!!
What people think and what they feel in their gut are totally different and, in my experience, the gut always wins!!
I mean really, how many hot sexy models REALLY want a guy that's smart and funny?!! Haha! biggrin

gcash

gcash

Orlando, FL
February 2010

AUG 23, 2010 11:46 PM

Yup, products "designed" by focus groups almost always fail because of this effect.

It's the same thing trying to write software. You gather requirements and interview the shit out of the prospective users and write it exactly to the spec and ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the time they'll say "that's not what I wanted!!"

And the sad part is they're never trying to be devious or anything, they just truly are plain clueless.

And face it, you know you "should have" a salad so that's what the focus group asks for, but that's not what you're going to McDonald's for! You want that guilty-pleasure quick-satisfaction greasy burger. But you don't want to say that in the middle of a focus group, because you feel you'll be judged by the rest of the group and the survey people.

Tallboy___66

Tallboy___66

Chicago, IL
December 2009

AUG 25, 2010 09:10 PM

grayness said:
There's also one simple fact: people lie.


I think people know exactly what they want... they just lie about it.



They lie to themselves.

I knew that eating at Wendy's for lunch after skipping breakfast wasn't he best choice, I did it anyway.

I knew buying a beer and 2 slices of pizza for dinner wasn't the best for me I did it anyway.



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