TOEFLスピーキング Task 3

The mere exposure effect is a psychological phenomenon in which people develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them. This effect occurs even when the initial exposure is subliminal or unnoticed. Researchers believe that repeated exposure reduces uncertainty and increases positive feelings toward a stimulus, making it more likable over time. The effect has been observed across various domains, including faces, words, and sounds.

Professor: Now, let me give you an example from a study. Researchers showed participants a series of random Chinese characters, but they flashed them so quickly that participants couldn't consciously read them. Some characters were shown many times, others only once. Later, participants were asked to rate how much they liked each character. Interestingly, they rated the characters they had seen more often as more pleasant and likable, even though they had no idea they had seen them before. This shows that mere exposure, without conscious awareness, can influence our preferences. The same effect happens in real life—like when you hear a new song on the radio repeatedly, you start to enjoy it more, even if you didn't like it the first time.