In answering this question how do subliminal messages work, the first thing we must find out is if subliminal messages do work. The answer depends on what kind, but there are some that work.

The only kind of subliminal message that has been proven to work involves showing very brief text or a simple picture to an audience so briefly they do not consciously perceive it. Other kinds of subliminal messaging has been tried, but there is no evidence that it has any effect. Flashing anything longer than a word or two, or playing recorded speech backwards doesn't work.

Subliminal means the same thing as subconscious. Showing someone an image for just a few milliseconds is so fast that they can not consciously perceive it. They do perceive it subconsciously, and this perception can effect their behavior.

Several studies about subliminal messaging can help us understand how it works. In one experiment subjects were shown the name of a soft drink for a very short amount of time. Afterwards they were more likely to choose that drink than the control group who had not received the message. In another experiment subjects were shown the word "beef." Surprisingly, this did not cause them to prefer beef afterwards, but it did make them hungrier than the control group.

There are now some companies that market subliminal messages. They record audio backwards, and sell these tapes to consumers, in order to help the with problems such as low self esteem. Regrettably, studies have not found any evidence that this works.

Even though some types of subliminal messaging does have an effect, there is no need to worry about what it might make you do. For one thing, companies do not use subliminal advertising on TV or in movies. Even if they did, they could never convince you to do something against your will. They might be able to influence your choice of one brand over another, but they could never make you do something you might not do anyway.