5 Examples of How Priming Influences Behaviour

Research, expectations, and why the brain hates uncertainty

Before we get into the story, I want you to do a small task. I will give you the first and last letter of a word. You should guess the word. Complete this word while I go an grab some food.

Here is the word — S _ _ p

Did you say it is soup? Ok, what if I go and take a shower? What word will it be now? S _ _ p

Did you say soap this time?

This is called priming. When you are exposed to a “stimulus” — a word, image or sound — it will influence how you respond to a related “stimulus”.

Priming happens only when particular associations are activated before you do something. For example, if you show a person the word doctor he will be faster to recognise the word nurse than showing a different word. Why? Because these words are closely associated and our brain connects them faster.

The misconception — you know when you are being influenced and how it’s affecting your behaviour.

The truth — you are unaware of how the ideas formed in your subconscious influence your behaviour.

Every interaction with an experience or physical object and every perception, sets a chain of ideas in your head. It doesn’t matter if you notice them consciously or not. For example, if I say “pencil”, you will think about pens. If I say “blackboards”, it will make you think about classrooms. Or if I say “financial report”, you may make you think about accountin or finance work. These things happen to you all the time, even though you are unaware of them. You form conceptions in your head all the time.

Every physical object you encounter triggers an association. You construct reality from minute to minute with memories and emotions. Together they form a consciousness that exists only for you — David McRaney…