◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release AGE VBE Pre EPA-RDP96-00788R001300020001-6 ST-CS-01-179-72 July 1972 time with a particular stimulus, be below threshold may for another person, or the same person in another situation, be above threshold. Insofar as subliminality is crucial for motivational or security reasons, stimuli of such low intensity may be required that little effect could be obtained. As one review of literature in this area concluded: "There does not appear to be substantial evidence for subeeption (subliminal perception) as a distinct phenomenon." (167) Another review of literature in this area (168) concluded that most effects that suggest discrimination without awareness can be attributed to imperfections in measurement techniques or other shortcomings of experimental methodology and cannot be clearly demonstrated to be related to perceptual variables. Other research in the communications field suggests that research on reactions to propaganda might more profitably focus upon other factors than upon intensity of stimulation. 4. (U) There is strong moral repugnance to the use of subliminal perception in propaganda. This was made evident a few years. ago when some efforts were made (169) to introduce subliminal stimulation into TV as an advertising technique. Insofar as the US is trying to project abroad an image of itself as a nation encouraging indi- vidual freedom, it would seem extremely inappropriate to risk being detected employing propaganda techniques which appear to invade human privacy. It is highly doubtful that the American public would condone such use abroad, just as broadcasters have been reluctant to use this technique for fear of hostile reactions on the part of their audiences. While the risks of national public and international condemnation may be run for worthwhile objectives, if no great advantage accrues the risky approach would be inappro- priate. oho 5. (U) The possibility of utilizing subliminal perception for military purposes may have been realized by the Soviets. As mentioned earlier, there is a distinct lack of open literature from the USSR dealing with this subject. However, there is mention of it in Kuproyanovich's recent book (164). The author states that the showing of movie films and-slides, along with being an additional retention source, has yet another important value that aids in revealing the subconscious reserves of memory. Earlier in the author's text he describes the showing of movies where additional frames, of an advertising nature, were inserted between the film's basic frames. It was shown that, because of their brief but sufficiently frequent appearance, this technique acted on the subconscious (similar to US work in the 1950s). The Soviet 52 UNCLASSIFIED r Ke . = =