A subliminal message is a communication or stimulus presented below the threshold of conscious awareness, meaning the person receiving it is not consciously aware of the message but it is registered by their subconscious mind. These messages can be visual, such as images flashed very briefly on a screen, or auditory, such as sounds played below audible levels or hidden in other sounds. The goal of subliminal messages is to influence attitudes, perceptions, or behaviors without the individual realizing it
. Subliminal stimuli are processed by the brain without conscious perception, allowing the message to potentially affect decisions or actions subconsciously. For example, in advertising, subliminal messages might be used to encourage product purchases by embedding brief or hidden cues that the conscious mind does not detect but the subconscious does
. Historically, subliminal messaging gained attention in the 1950s when James Vicary claimed to increase sales by flashing messages like "Drink Coca-Cola" during movies, though these claims were later discredited. Despite ongoing debate and mixed evidence about their effectiveness, subliminal messages remain a topic of interest in psychology and marketing
. In summary, a subliminal message is a hidden or very brief stimulus designed to influence people without their conscious awareness, often used in media and advertising to subtly affect behavior
