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Aid adverts that juxtapose rich and poor: A preliminary test of their efficacy in North Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Kylie Griffiths*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences, & Management, Northern Territory University, Darwin NT 0909

Abstract

Aid commercials are increasingly advertising for the sponsorship of children in “Third World” countries through juxtaposing images of them alongside children enjoying wealthier, “First World” lifestyles. Sixty-four Bachelor of Education students from Darwin's Northern Territory University viewed images of the same child surrounded by First World, Third World, or a juxtaposed First/Third World environment; responded to an aid donation scenario; and reported their religiosity. Except for those participants who placed a higher value on religion, and compared to conventional “poor only” imagery, the juxtaposed images de-motivated viewers to help children living in Third World countries. Thus, while appealing to a minority of the donor public, juxta-positioning might be leaving the majority of potential donors untouched and unmotivated to help.

Type
Short papers
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea and the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Territory University, Australia 1999

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