What are subliminal messages?

Subliminal messages are defined as covert signals that can influence behavior without the individual's conscious awareness. This concept is rooted in the idea that people can receive or process information below the threshold of conscious perception. Subliminal messages often take the form of brief or hidden stimuli within a larger context, such as images within advertisements or sounds played at a very low volume.

The effectiveness of these messages relies on their ability to sway thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors without the receiver being consciously aware of the influence, which differentiates them from other types of messaging. This is particularly relevant in marketing and psychological research, where understanding how subtle cues can shape perceptions and decision-making is important.

While the other options describe different types of communication and reinforcement, they do not capture the essence of subliminal messaging, which is specifically about the unperceived, subtle influencing of thoughts or behavior.