Well, yes. Of course targeted marketing is an effective way to change the perceptions of a certain segment of the populace! You asked for proof? There is no need for neuro scientific research. A much more accurate way of measuring the effacacy of any marketing ploy lies in the fact that the marketing of sexuality and sexually provocitive advertisements continues to be used to sell products and sway perceptions and opinions. If it didn't work they wouldn't continue to use it! You need look no further than that. Money talks. If an advertising campaign fails to reach a targeted audience, the campaign is either abandoned or is refocused until the expected results are achieved.

I'm not saying that marketing is the ONLY thing that affects the self perception of an adolescent, but there is no doubt that marketing that is specifically TARGETED towards the adolescent plays a significant role. The brains of adolescents are no more susceptible to targeted marketing pressures than any other segment of the populace. The effacasy of any sort of marketing depends on whether or not it is targeted and executed correctly.

There are many, many factors involved in creating and shaping self perception and self worth. Advertising is to name but a single one of many. Yes, peer pressure is also a huge factor in adolsecent development.

Dan