Please watch the Frontline shows about medicating kids for ADHD (there is also a newer one on medicating kids for bipolar disorder) and the show about advertising (the Persuaders) at:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/watch/
and
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/
especially watch the chapter in each concerning the "science" (in the medication video the chapter might be labeled "promoting" ADHD or something like that)
Are these "applied" activities really for the greater good?
Reflection to Videos:
ReplyDeleteI think that as applied psychology becomes more prevalent, influential, and specialized, consumers in our country have a greater responsibility to monitor what they're buying and what they're taking. I believe that there are people (including children) in our country that suffer from ADD/ADHD and require medication. However, I do feel that in many cases medication is not necessary. I have a four year old cousin who likes to play "dinosaur" at pre-school. I've seen him play this game and it's a perfectly normal behavior for a little boy. He becomes a dinosaur for a few minutes, and then moves on. His teacher has pressured his mother for several months to put him on ADHD medication because according to her, the game is "unrealistic and too energetic." Seriously? I think many kids out there are just being little kids and some teachers ARE pressuring medication to make life easier for them. Kids are energetic, so parents and teachers just need to find proper outlets and be smart about what they're being told. Don't blame doctors, and definitely don't blame pharmaceutical companies.
As for applied psychology in advertising, I also see no real problem with it. Like I said, let's just be smart consumers and recognize an ad for what it is. I'll admit that I've purchased products because of ads or product placements. Truthfully, if I had not seen the ad or product placement I would not have been aware that the product was on the market. Some things just appeal to us, and we buy the product as a result. This isn't fraud, just smart business and psychology. It's up to each individual person to recognize messages and take some time to think. I feel that the French market guru in the second video has made some pretty legitimate hypotheses, but it also seems like he's getting a little ahead of himself with the "luxury code." Give me a mansion in New York and some French champagne and I could convince desperate Fortune 500 marketers the simplicity of advertising. This guy just reminded me of Mesmer a little too much.
Seth