44.Motivation, goals

Q1 What are some good ways to persuade children?

Ans- Well, from what I've seen, positive reinforcement works really well. My little cousin, for example, never wanted to clean up his toys... until his parents started praising him every time he did it. Now he even reminds them to say 'Well done'! Another trick that helps is giving children choices. When I babysit, I never say 'Go brush your teeth.' I ask, 'Do you want to brush your teeth now or after your bedtime story?' It sounds simple, but they feel more in control and don't argue. Also, I've noticed that if you explain the reason why you need something done, it makes a huge difference. Kids aren't robots. If they understand why, they usually cooperate. And of course, staying calm and patient is key. If you start raising your voice, they just stop listening completely.

Q2 How does advertising influence children and their parents?

Ans- Well, children are an extremely vulnerable target audience because they are cognitively and psychologically defenseless against advertising.Children take everything they see at face value, and therefore they are easy to persuade. So if the ad says that it is a Snickers that satisfies hunger best, they are likely to opt for a Snickers rather than healthy snacks. They quickly get used to consuming unhealthy food, and then they become adults who lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Also, children are not able to understand the persuasive character of advertising messages. However, they absorb these messages like a sponge. This may cause changes in children's behaviour. For example, some children make excessive demands on their parents for the products they see in ads, especially if these products were advertised by their favourite cartoon or film characters. And some kids even have temper tantrums in public if their parents refuse to buy this or that thing.

Q3 How do ads persuade people?

Ans- Oh, by using a number of psychological tricks, I guess. For example, by scaring us, I mean telling that bad things will probably happen to us if we don't have this product or service, or vice versa, by promising us happiness, telling that we will be filled with joy if we buy this product or service. They also do it by implying that all our friends already have it trying to persuade us that we are the only ones in our peer group who still don't have this product or service. I guess these are the most efficient tricks they use, at least, these are the tricks that work well with me.

Q4 Do you think advertisements can influence our decisions when shopping?

Ans- Absolutely. Nowadays there are lots of marketing tools and tactics that can affect consumer behaviour and decisions, and therefore make customers choose particular goods or services. First of all, companies launch marketing campaigns that cause consumers to react to them. The more people react to your marketing campaigns, the more they will talk about them. the more they discuss your brand and products, the more likely people are to buy them. As a result, companies spend inordinate amounts of money on advertising, especially on social media. To make ads effective and form a deep connection with the audience, marketers create messages that tap into human emotion and everyone's desire to be happy. Sometimes they try to highlight the scarcity of the offer to create a sense of urgency, for example, by using limited-time offer ads. Companies offer free samples, generous discounts, free shipping and other promotional deals to gain an edge over the competition. They use various techniques to make customers feel like they're getting more than what they're paying for, for example, by using the "buy one, get one free" strategy. Also, to increase visibility and attractiveness of products, marketers use packaging and labeling. Finally, a lot of brands today form communities, both online and offline, where their loyal customers share common interests together because the need to belong is one of our most basic needs that motivate our behavior. So, as you see, there are lots of ways to make customers buy specific products and buy more of them.

Q5 How does marketing make people choose particular goods and brands?

Ans- Nowadays there are lots of marketing tools and tactics that can affect consumer behaviour and decisions, and therefore make customers choose particular goods or services. First of all, companies launch marketing campaigns that cause consumers to react to them. The more people react to your marketing campaigns, the more they will talk about them. the more they discuss your brand and products, the more likely people are to buy them. As a result, companies spend inordinate amounts of money on advertising, especially on social media. To make ads effective and form a deep connection with the audience, marketers create messages that tap into human emotion and everyone's desire to be happy. Sometimes they try to highlight the scarcity of the offer to create a sense of urgency, for example, by using limited-time offer ads. Companies offer free samples, generous discounts, free shipping and other promotional deals to gain an edge over the competition. They use various techniques to make customers feel like they're getting more than what they're paying for, for example, by using the "buy one, get one free" strategy. Also, to increase visibility and attractiveness of products, marketers use packaging and labeling. Finally, a lot of brands today form communities, both online and offline, where their loyal customers share common interests together because the need to belong is one of our most basic needs that motivate our behavior. So, as you see, there are lots of ways to make customers buy specific products and buy more of them.

Q6 Who do children listen to more, their parents or their teachers?

Ans- I believe parents have more influence on children because they are with children from an early age, teaching them life skills and values. Parents provide emotional support, which builds a child's confidence and trust. They guide their children through life decisions and are always there to help with challenges. Even as children grow older, parents continue to shape their beliefs and attitudes, which lasts a lifetime.

Q7 What do parents often persuade their children to do?

Ans- You know, parents often persuade their children to do a few things. For example, they try to get them to eat more vegetables and avoid junk food. Even if kids don't want to, parents keep reminding them because they care about their health. Another common thing is chores. Parents ask their kids to clean their rooms or take out the trash. It's not always fun for the kids, but parents want them to learn responsibility. Also, parents often push their children to study harder when their grades aren't good. They believe that doing well at school will help later in life. So yeah, parents usually persuade their kids to stay healthy, be responsible, and focus on school, even if it feels like a lot sometimes.

Q8 What advice should young people follow?

Ans- You know, one thing young people should really get right, to my mind, is how to manage money. It's funny, but schools don't teach it enough, and that can cause problems later. Also, I think spending time with family and friends is something they should definitely do. Having people who support you makes a big difference, especially when life gets tough. And honestly, they shouldn't worry too much about making mistakes. Trying new stuff and sometimes failing is just part of learning and getting better at things.