Robin M. Akert, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
rakert@wellesley.edu

Sci Ctr #494
x3011

Course Description: This course focuses on a major topic in social psychology: attitude formation and change. Techniques of social influence that we encounter in everyday life will be explored, with a particular emphasis on advertising. The findings of empirical research and theory will be used to understand persuasive messages. Topics include how emotion, gender and culture are used to maximize the effectiveness of advertisements, and how stereotypes are both perpetuated and refuted in advertising.

Prerequisite: 210.

Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis

Course Archives:  
Nonverbal Communication and Advertising: Genter differences, Stereotypes, and Tropes.
This is a collection of ads from men's and women's fashion magazines (Spring/Summer 2001) that we will be discussing in class. The ads reflect male and female nonverbal behavior - both real gender differences and gender stereotypes.
Ad Parodies
These ads came from this page, and are entertaining to view. Many are from well-known lines of products.
Resources:
www.adflip.com
A huge database of ads, old and new, organized by decade, type, and most popular.
 
www.adreview.com
A site dedicated to explaining and criticizing ads. Some reviews are critical, while some are complementary.
 
www.aef.com
Contains a journal, a museum, a library, and more - all related to advertising.
 
Ad Access
Images and database information for over 7,000 advertisements printed in US and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955.
 
Coca-Cola Advertisements
Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements: Highlights from the Motion Picture Archives at the Library of Congress. Presents a variety of television advertisements, never-broadcast outtakes, and experimental footage reflecting the historical development of television advertising for a major commercial product.
 
www.poleshift.org
A site that takes you step by step through the different and increasingly well hidden levels of subliminal messages in advertising.
 
Additional resources