Many are scared that corporate marketers and political consultants could manipulate the population through our brains in certain areas, such as voting, and trigger neural activities to modify our behavior to meet their needs. Doing research on specific topics, such as advertising, and brain washing people are two very different things. I do not think we are even technologically advanced enough for scientists to perform said manipulation. Researchers have been studying the brain using the same equipment but for different intentions for years now. Suddenly because we are in the field of advertising are arguments being posed.
The counter argument to this is that the machines are being used to shed light on brain mechanisms that play a central role in consumer behavior. Producers requesting feedback on their product does not result in consistent or truthful evidence. I think we have the right to explore the brain as much as we can. If we achieve negative results, that is a risk we are willing to take to attain knowledge and to move forward. Operating out of fear was not the attitude held when famous and important discoveries were made.
I found this quote quite funny. "At its best, neuromarketing would make advertising more effective, potentially leading to new totalitarian regimes, civil strife, wars, genocide and countless deaths." ....really? We could discover more about how the brain operates, how humans think and how we are effected by advertisements. They aren't changing our reactions, just putting the information out about how and why. I do not wish to live in a world run by people who are scared of the possibilities scientific advancement can bring. Stop fearing change, for it will happen wether you think you are allowing it or not.
Why does the media not focus on these fascinating scientific studies that are constantly happening?
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