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Cereal Box Psychology

posted by n1 on Thursday April 10 2014, @01:01AM   Printer-friendly
from the cereal-mind-games dept.

Ethanol-fueled writes:

In addition to being loaded with unholy amounts of sugar, the cold breakfast cereals most American children enjoy are actually conducting covert psychological operations on them, according to researchers at Cornell University.

The researchers found that cereals marketed to kids are placed half as high on supermarket shelves as adult cereals, and that the average angle of the gaze of cereal spokes-characters on cereal boxes marketed to kids is downward at a 9.6 degree angle whereas spokes-characters on adult cereal look almost straight ahead. Findings show, for example, that brand trust was 16% higher and the feeling of connection to the brand was 28% higher when that Trix rabbit makes eye contact.

In short, the researchers' advice if you don't want your kids going cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs is not to call the police, just don't take your kids down the cereal aisle in the grocery store.

 
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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Joe Desertrat on Thursday April 10 2014, @01:22AM

    by Joe Desertrat (2454) on Thursday April 10 2014, @01:22AM (#29187)

    Seriously. It's up to the parents to make the choices for the kids, not the other way around, at least when health consequences are at stake. I could have whined all day for a cereal my mother or father didn't want to buy and it would not have done any good. Actually, the whining all day part probably would have ended badly for me as well.

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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday April 10 2014, @01:30AM

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Thursday April 10 2014, @01:30AM (#29193) Homepage Journal
    I tried it. It did. The only thing more annoying that a parent beating their kid in the grocery store is a parent not beating their kid in the grocery store.
    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by Dunbal on Thursday April 10 2014, @12:30PM

      by Dunbal (3515) on Thursday April 10 2014, @12:30PM (#29405)

      That's why I always leave my kids locked in the car in the parking lot in the Florida sun.

      • (Score: 2) by davester666 on Thursday April 10 2014, @04:16PM

        by davester666 (155) on Thursday April 10 2014, @04:16PM (#29523)

        I've learned my lesson. After I was arrested and publicly shamed for doing this, I vowed they wouldn't catch me again.

        Now I lock them in the trunk.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday April 10 2014, @04:51AM

    by TheGratefulNet (659) on Thursday April 10 2014, @04:51AM (#29262)

    now, kids are in control. you piss off a kid: he calls and 'reports you' to various authorities. lies that you spank him or feed him beer. gets you in trouble.

    I go to great lengths to avoid being NEAR kids, these days. some brat wants to make trouble and an adult has a LOT to lose just based on the brat's little lies.

    NO THANKS!

    I can see how the parents are 'kept in check' by today's kids. teachers, too.

    I weep for the future with our pussified next generation ;(

    --
    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 10 2014, @12:11PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 10 2014, @12:11PM (#29394)

      I'd beat the $#!^ out of my kid if they ever did that to me.