Advertisers are wily communicators. They know their social psychology and use it try to persuade us to buy their products. The following three advertisements show a couple of the elements of persuasion that they use, credibility and attractiveness.

The first one is for Daddy Pete’s Plant Pleaser soils. I perceived the source of this ad as credible from the statements that say they have “over 110 years of farming” experience and that they have passed down their farming traditions for generations. The ad doesn’t make any specific claims about the products but, it does lead me to believe that they are experienced farmers and know their dirt.

I did not find the same credibility in the next ad. It is a smiling baby face trying to entice us to follow PetsPlusMag on Facebook. It claims to have “fewer…bizarre memes” and “more…business intel.”  I don’t believe it for a minute. But, I admit I was drawn in by the smiling baby to read more of the ad. Cute? Yes. Ironically effective? Maybe. Credible? No.

Finally, a third ad uses physical attractiveness to send their message. It is selling Endless Summer BloomStruck Hydrangeas. The models are gorgeous plants. In addition to the tempting graphics, this company also offers plant care advice via text messages. I found this ad the most effective of the three. I could almost be persuaded that I could have a garden full of the same beautiful flowers except, that I am now aware of their strategy.

In reviewing my incorrect answers from Exam 1, and researching the correct answers, I realized that I need to pay more attention to practical examples of the theories studied by social psychologists. While I took many pages of notes, both during my initial readings and following the review outline, I focused on terms and theories. I need to remember that the goals of the research are to gain insight into common situations. I think I can improve in this area by utilizing more study periods and covering a bit less material in each session.

I remember my father turning the radio off at dinner because he said the music made him want to eat to the beat. He and my mother had similar tastes in music, just as my husband and I have similar preferences although they are different from either sets of parents. I think these preferences are influenced by the type of music popular at the time. It is interesting that my husband has preferred the same types of music (folk and classic rock) over the years. On the other hand, my taste is more eclectic. I prefer individual songs from many different genres (folk, country, classic rock, pop, classical, etc.). Sometimes, I think it has something to do with our early lives. He was raised in the same house from the time he was five until after high school. To this day, he accepts change grudgingly. My family moved every year or two up until my last year of high school. I am used to change. Despite our musical tastes, I believe both generations share similar values. I think those values were instilled when the radio was turned off.

My soundtrack:

My grandmother – Almost Heaven (John Denver)

My Mother – Amazing Grace

Marriage – Landslide (Stevie Nicks)

Soul Searching/Adventure – Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills, and Nash)

Personal Sanity – Huck’s Tune (Bob Dylan)

Life – Trip Around the Sun (Jimmy Buffet & Martina McBride)

“What kind of student am I?”

Well, I have always been a good student in terms of grades. I learned the subject at hand, passed the test, and went on to the next subject. I never seriously doubted that I could succeed. Although, in hindsight, being a student was my only “job” at the time. My cognitive resources had no real conflicting demands, and my goals were short sighted. I never looked far into the future.

Now is another story. I have more roles and responsibilities (e.g., wife, mother, employee, etc.)  I no longer have the luxury of studying, or not, as I please. I have to fit it in as time allows. While I am still confident that I can get good grades, I am more aware of the importance of what I am learning and how useful it may, or may not, be to me.  My lack of self-confidence is more in my choice of subject matter. Did I choose the best major? Will it benefit me personally and financially?

On a positive note, I am starting to see some common sense applications of some of the subject matter I have  learned in recent courses. That is giving me a bit of a confidence boost.

I found the results of the Self-efficacy survey to be interesting. My first instinct was to choose the most confident response to most of the questions. However, I backed off a bit when I remembered a time when I didn’t finish something I started. Was I unconfident about my ability to finish? Did I lose interest? Or, did I decide the project was not going to be as beneficial as I thought when I began? I will have to think about that some more.