In 1957, in a movie house in Ft. Lee New Jersey James Vicary conducted one of the most famous experiments into the effects of subliminal messages. By showing the audience flashing subliminal messages intended to make them want to buy coca cola and popcorn he claimed he increased the sales of both products.

The Vicary study caused controversy from the outset. It caused concern in government which eventually bled to the general public. The panic created soon paved the way for a complete ban of subliminal messages from TV and radio in several countries!

Even though James Vicary told Advertising Age that his study was a "gimmick" and his findings were falsified the acceptance that subliminal messages produce results remains. If the experiment was false and subsequent studies produce no real meaningful data from the use of subliminal messages why does the belief in their effectiveness remain to this day?

Well there is evidence to suggest that in 1957 some scientists working for an extremely powerful agency were using subliminal messages in their own experiments!

While the battle raged over the effectiveness of

subliminal messages the CIA were quietly conducting their own research into the phenomenon!

The CIA was most interested in whether subliminal messages could be used to influence targets to think and act in certain ways. In classified documents, that were released under The Freedom of Information Act, is evidence of how the CIA were involved heavily in the research of subliminal messages as a method of forced control.

The CIA report, "The Operational Potential of Subliminal Perception", written in 1958 highlights some of their findings. In a 1980 article for High Times magazine Martin Lee states that a former CIA agent revealed that the agency committed themselves to discovering the effectiveness of subliminal messages in the manipulation of political outcomes!

The declassified CIA journal has a disconcerting entry where it is stated that it might be possible for the word "Obey" to be used in their subliminal programs.

The CIA may, or may not, have finished their investigations into subliminal messages but the advertising and marketing organizations certainly have not! Subliminal messages can be seen in a variety of magazine adverts. The use of subliminal messages as a self help tool has increased exponentially in recent years. They are produced as stand alone products and also incorporated into hypnosis, meditation and other recordings.

Below are some additional resources and information on the effectiveness of subliminal messages.

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