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Video: Does Sex Really Sell?

April 18, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller

“It’s been said countless times when it comes to ads: sex sells. But is that really true?”

The conventional wisdom when it comes to marketing is that sex sells. This is why it’s not uncommon to see television commercials and magazine ads that focus more attention on scantily clad models than they do on the actual product that’s for sale. However, does this approach to advertising really work in terms of bringing in the bucks?

In the brief video below from our friends over at The Science of Us, they explore what the research has found, and the results are surprising. It turns out that using sexual content in ads might not be as effective as previously thought and, in fact, may very well be counterproductive, especially if companies want audiences to remember their brand (which, presumably, they do). Check out the full video to learn more.

Watch more videos on the science of sex here.

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Image Source: 123RF.com/asjack

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Written by
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and Psychology

Dr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.

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