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Subliminal Threshold

Subliminal Threshold: When stimuli are below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness.

Kurt S

cho

lz/ Sup

erstock

How does stimuli that falls below our conscious awareness

(subliminal threshold affect us?)

Derren Brown “Psychological illusionist”

Priming refers to an increased sensitivity to certain stimuli due to prior experience.

Relies on implicit memory Research shows it may be

able to affect decision making. (Jacoby, 1983)

Further research suggests that any influence is fleeting.

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Demonstration

• •Half of you will be group A.

• •Half of you will be group B.

• •Group B, please close your eyes.

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•Group A

•HORSES

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• Instructions

•On the next slide I will

show a picture. Quickly

count the living objects

in this picture.

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Difference Threshold

Difference Threshold: Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time, also called just noticeable

difference (JND). Difference Threshold

Tell when you (observer) detect a difference in the light.

No

Observer’s Response

No Yes

Weber’s Law

• Computes the Just Noticeable Difference.

• The change needed is proportional to the original intensity of the stimulus.

• The more intense the stimulus the more change is needed to notice the difference.

• 8% for vision.

Stimulus Constant (k)

Light 8%

Weight 2%

Tone 3%

Sensory Adaptation

• Decreased responsiveness to stimuli due to constant stimulation.

Do you feel your underwear all day?

Put a band aid on your arm and after awhile

you don’t sense it.

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Backmasking – at the subliminal threshold

• While we ARE able to process information below our conscious level of awareness, this information will probably not have that much of an impact on our behavior. Couple this fact with the understanding that we can sometimes be primed to "hear" or "see" certain messages, these will sometimes become more convincing. Remember, though, according to research, "these have little or no value in determining our behavior".