In Margaret Atwood's "Wilderness Tips," Kat explains a method for influencing people's perceptions. She suggests that by overwhelming individuals with idealized images of themselves, you can create feelings of inadequacy. This strategy relies on exploiting the differences between how people see themselves and what they aspire to be, effectively using this gap to drive consumer behavior.
Kat believes that introducing something novel and unfamiliar can amplify this anxiety, thus enhancing its impact. The essence of her argument is that emotional discomfort, particularly anxiety about one's self-image, can be a powerful motivator for sales and influence. By capitalizing on these feelings, marketers can effectively manipulate perceptions and drive individuals to seek out products that promise to bridge that gap.