Critical and Creative Thinking in Society

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Perception vs. Reality in Advertising

Perception versus reality in advertising is clearly evident in almost all marketing campaigns. The Dos Equis campaign is a prime example. The beer ads portray an elderly gentleman who doesn’t “always drink beer. But, when I do, I prefer Dos Equis. Stay thirsty, my friends.” The gentleman’s role is The Most Interesting Man in the World. The author’s perception of the message is when a man drinks Dos Equis beer, he becomes so cool and interesting that cookie fortunes read “Congratulations”, seven-ten splits are easy, adventures abound, and women fall at his feet. Obviously, the reality is much different. The author has, at one time or another, but not very often, consumed Dos Equis beer. The reality is that I am still unable to consistently pick up the seven-ten split regardless of the beer I drink.

Conclusion

Critical and creative thinking are crucial to consistently and effectively solving problems and evaluating information. The current climate change crisis could have been very different if officials had taken into consideration the effects of poisonous exhaust in the atmosphere. Free will, truth, knowledge, and opinions are the primary factors when critical and creative thinking are utilized. Hindrances to critical and creative thinking, including lack of direction, fear of failure, and fear of criticism, are abundant and should be overcome or avoided when possible. The marketplace is overrun with marketing campaigns that push the boundaries of perception to sell their products. The onus belongs to the consumer to utilize critical thinking skills and discern between advertising perception and reality when considering purchases. Tears cannot cure cancer and nobody is the Most interesting person in the world.

References

Merriam-Webster.com. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Ruggiero, V. R. (2012). The Art of Thinking (10th ed.). Retrieved from The University of

Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Tracy, B. (2015). BrianTracy.com. Retrieved from http://www.briantracy.com/blog/business-

success/ 6-obstacles-to-creative-thinking-and-how-to-overcome-them-develop-problem-

solving-skills-for-business-success/