sex sells, duh.
The role that sex plays in advertisements is huge. There are countless commercials and magazines devoted to this one form of selling products. The exploitation of humanities sexual nature is a major factor in the sales of clothes, cars, alcohol, tobacco etc.
One of the most intriguing types of commercials with a sexual twist, would be the condom ads. There is one commercial in particular that is depicting men as pigs until they get a certain type of condom. Before getting it, the women were disgusted by them, but after they were suddenly interested. Is that to say that if you buy a certain brand of condom, girls will be interested in you? Likewise, Axe body spray ads depict that after using they’re product, gorgeous females will be attacking you. Or the commercial where the women are dancing provocatively and saying “Bom Chica Wah Wah.” What guy wouldn’t look at that and instantly want to buy it?
Why does sex sell? According to Doctor Richard Taflinger, “Sex is the second strongest of the psychological appeals, right behind self-preservation. Its strength to reproduction is biological and instinctive, the genetic imperative (Taflinger, 1996).” According to that statement, the reason that sex sells is due to the fact that males subconsciously want to reproduce. So seeing an attractive model can cause a male to push common sense aside and purchase on a whim.
In order to sell products that most men buy, especially beer, attractive women are strategically placed in skimpy outfits or compromising situations as a sales ploy. Psychologists are hired by major companies to determine which advertisements will have the biggest impact on the consumer initially. It is a well calculated and thought out plan that sex is used in advertisement due to the fact that it takes in an extremely large profit.
~Danielle
This is very interesting, Danielle. I think we all are familiar with the adage you are studying here: sex sells. But all too often we don’t ask ourselves, why and how does sex sell? I’d like to discuss this in class if we could. This is an excellent example of how seeking out a source gives us greater insight to aspects of like that we already know exist.
Sex does sell, your exactly right. It catched your attention and keeps in throughout the commercial. But i think it is equally targeted at women as well as men. Even though when it’s directed at men it’s more obvious.
gabi
FIRST SEX SELLS, that is why out of the list of blogs i probably picked this one because it said sex lmao….
haha beer ads haha. I think its funny because there is a ad on the tv for beer right now, and its of guys going to a halloween party and find HOT girls and quickly go back to their car to make costumes to match them, than the HOT girls hang out with the average guys cuz there costumes go together, and than they also add beer is cool drink it at parties and get hot chicks. I think beer is fun. i agree with you 100 percent your the best ads use sex to sell, its the best way to make your ad’s noticed, i mean if an average joe thinks he can get a hot chick, he will probably buy the product.
dennis 2
When i look at almost every commerical or TV show, sex is always involoved one way for another. People are more attracted and want to watch tv with sex in it. I have seen that condom commerical and everytime i see it, it makes me laugh, what a stupid commerical.
Kristin Sclater
Sex absolutely sells, even though people know they will not get what the product sells, subconsciously they will want that type of advertisement to continue.
-Stefan
I like this post. It is so true. When I am watching T.V. or reading a magazine and see an extremely attractive in the ad it gets my attention. Altthough I don’t neccessarily want to buy the product it gets stuck in my head from the ad and when I go shopping I am familiar with the product and most likely will buy it. For instance I now buy the axe body spray even though I know that hot women will not attack me it still is catching.
I liked your blog because obviously sex does sell. It automatically sparks interest about the product that is being advertised and thats what the advertisers look to accomplish.
-Angela
I like the source that you used. I can say that no one can really disagree. But I do Have a question: Do you think moral conservatives such as nuns or priest are enticed the same way? If not how do you think one would appeal to them in a ad that will provide the profoundness as sexy ads?
SEX does sell for sure. It almost as if people think when they buy something advertised using sex they think they are going to in return get sex in some way which is extra ridiculous in some ways because of certain ads that use sex. I really don’t think if a guy blatantly came up to me holding a Trojan I would be urged to rip my clothes off. I actually think I would be a little pissed off that someone actually thought it was just that easy. Nice point.
-Tiffany P.
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