The psychology of Christmas shopping—how marketers nudge you to buy

[rangerrebew]

The psychology of Christmas shopping—how marketers nudge you to buy
December 15, 2017 by Paul Harrison, The Conversation


Many people see marketing as a form of manipulation, particularly around Christmas and the other retail bonanzas: Easter, Valentine's Day, Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day. But rather than simply trying to trick people, the masters of marketing know it's much easier to understand and work with innate human flaws.

By drawing on a plethora of psychological and sociological research, marketers subtly give us permission to buy and not to think too much, or too deeply, about why we're buying. Not thinking all the time is a very efficient way for us to get by. It conserves energy, and allows us to live relatively easily by responding to our psychological predispositions, social norms, and general cognitive imperfections.


Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-psychology-christmas-shoppinghow-nudge.html#jCp

[Gefn]

Fascinating

 

[Victoria33]

Not thinking all the time is a very efficient way for us to get by. It conserves energy, and allows us to live relatively easily by responding to our psychological predispositions, social norms, and general cognitive imperfections.

@rangerrebew
@mystery-ak 

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I think.  I usually have Christmas gifts bought by the end of October, certainly by the middle of November.  I consider what would help the person when I decide on a gift.  However, I do think outside the box sometime, like giving Bob a gizmo that fits on the toilet seat that lights up in different colors when he approaches the potty.

[Suppressed]

I consider what would help the person when I decide on a gift.  However, I do think outside the box sometime, like giving Bob a gizmo that fits on the toilet seat that lights up in different colors when he approaches the potty.

Hey, that's still a "help the person", for nighttime navigation to the loo!