People are driven by their emotions and this is no secret to advertisers. In today's world it can be hard to decipher how credible advertisements are. Many products are solely sold off of appealing to consumer's emotion, with little facts or evidence to back up advertising claims. Sometimes the brand or product is the last thing consumers notice. First they see a life style they want to live or a body they want to have. Then, they look to see what brand is selling the product on the model in hopes they will portray the same image just by owning/ using the product. The Dove beauty commercials do a good job of pointing out how unattainable images are in advertising, because models are distorted through technology.
Advertisers play on all emotions including: happiness, fear, sympathy, guilt, and love. We've all seen the ASPCA commercial with Sara McLachlan and the images of the abused or abandon animals. This commercial really tugs on viewer's heart strings in hopes they will donate to the organization.
Below is an image of one viewer's opinion of the commercial. The reason for this opinion is because viewers feel guilty for the innocent animals, which is exactly what the ASPCA wants, compelling people to donate.
Below is a link to the Dove commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Success in Advertisements Rely 100% on Emotion
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Lol, great picture. That commercial is one of the strongest users of human emotions to appeal for funds. Because we're naturally compassionate people, they use sad music and sad looking animals to get us to donate. It's rather disappointing to see that advertisers are so easily willing to manipulate us for their own good.
The Dove commercial video is really amazing and disappointing at the same time. It isn't right for advertisers to manipulate people's images using technology just to make money. It is really sad how our world sees beauty these days because of such things. It is all about perfection, but no one is perfect in reality. None of it is real anymore, so what are children supposed to believe? Our world is becoming fake.
I LOVE Dove and their products! The first time I saw their commercial outing other beauty advertisements I was in awe. I love watching Dove commercials because they make you feel normal. They have average women who explain their real life accounts with the products and how they actually work!
I don't think advertisers should be blamed for this, they are just trying to do their jobs the best they can. I believe that consumers should be more responsible if they do not want to support the manipulation that's being discussed here. For instance, don't watch cable television or don't buy magazines where this type of advertising is typically concentrated. Consumers are generally lazy and will not stop their lifestyles unless it becomes financially detrimental to maintain. In reality, the advertising people are doing the same thing.
I think it's very difficult for consumers to realize how they are being manipulated by such advertisements. It's amazing that whenever I see that ASPCA commercial with the dogs how badly I want to help those dogs and how great it would be to help them... But then it's right on to the next commercial and I forget about the ASPCA one completely.