An Analysis of Advertising's Impact on Consumer Behavior and Autonomy

This essay examines the effects of advertising on consumer behavior, focusing on persuasive techniques and their impact on autonomy. It discusses how advertising influences desires, such as the pursuit of money, sex, adventure, and power, and argues that persuasive advertising can override consumer self-sufficiency. The essay explores the concepts of autonomous desire, rational desire and choice, control, and free choice, referencing the work of Robert Arrington and addressing arguments in favor of advertising, including those of Philip Nelson. The paper also delves into the ethical considerations of consumer manipulation, addressing arguments both for and against its use, and analyzes the characteristics of persuasive advertising, including the persuader's knowledge, the reasons behind the persuasion, the manipulation involved, and the impact on consumer autonomy. The essay draws on the work of Crisp et al. (2016).

Summary
In the story, the impact of advertisement on the unconscious desires such as money, sex,
adventure, and power is discussed. It is argued that the persuasive advertisement overrides the
self-sufficiency of the consumers and in that it manipulates the advertisement with their
knowledge which is not good for the viewers. These type of advertisement causes desires in such
a manner that a necessary condition of autonomy due to which the decision is taken that has been
removed. The four notions which are central to autonomous are discussed in the paper, namely,
autonomous desire, rational desire and choice, control and free choice by following the strategy
of Robert Arrington. The replies are made in favor of advertisement to the Arrington’s argument.
The argument claimed by the Philip Nelson concludes that event the persuasive advertisement
overrides autonomy, but it is still in the interest of the consumers which are seriously mistaken.
The arguments associated with the persuasive advertising in which some of them argue that the
manipulation of consumers is evil. Other claims that the evil is unnecessary. Some argue that
manipulation is beneficial for the consumers. The persuasion view seems peculiar. The author
considers all the four characteristics into account, namely, lack of knowledge on the part of the
persuader, no good reasons, manipulation, and overriding the autonomous of anyone (Crisp et
al., 2016).

References
Crisp, R. (2016). Persuasive Advertising, Autonomy, and the Creation of Desire (1st ed.).
Springer.