An Explanation

This whole blog was part of a project for our class. So here's where we explain what we were doing with each post. The first post was honest and basic. We just summarized our topic. The posts that followed are all part of our project, and here's what we did with each one.

• The first post, titled "Birth Control," uses Classical Conditioning to persuade readers to use birth control. By including an image of an attractive person about to take her birth control pills, we have associated a positive element with birth control, and so birth control itself becomes is seen as something positive.
  

• The second post, title "Protect Each Other," also uses Classical Conditioning to persuade readers to do something, in this case, use a condom. The image of a happy teenage couple is not only similar to our target audience, but is also met with a positive reactions. By pairing it with a post focused on condom use, condoms come to be associated with a positive element.

• The third post, titled "Has It Sunken In Yet?," is very simple. It uses the Classical Conditioning principle of repetition to deliver our message. By repeating the ad image over and over again, people cannot help but absorb it.

• The fourth post, titled "Subliminal Persuasion," is a little tricky. It seems like all we are doing is talking about what we would like to see be executed if subliminal messaging worked, and we've given an example of that. But within the text of the post, certain letters have been set in bold face. When pulled from the text and put together, these selected letters spell out "use a condom or abstain."
  

• The fifth and sixth posts, titled "Expert Methods of Contraception" and "Outspoken Support for Our Cause," we have information and support for our topic from credible sources. Dr. Drew Pinksy, a famous psychiatrist and physician, is clearly credible due to not only his expertise on the subject of sexuality, but also his trustworthiness as a public figure. Oprah's credibility lies in her worldwide fame, and the public knowledge that she is an advocate for women's rights, and supports several charities. She was also once a pregnant teen, once abused and living in poverty, and her experience gives young teens someone they can relate too. Both people are credible communicators of our topic, and able to persuade people to adopt our ideal behaviors.

This doesn't mean we don't really feel the way we portrayed. We do! Take take of your bodies, ladies (and gentlemen), and take control of your lives.