Deception in Advertising: Volvo's "Bear Foot" Misstep

Essay by goldelocksUniversity, Master'sA+, November 2005

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Executive Summary.

When making ethical decisions, I usually use the Virtue Approach. Before making any ethical decision, this approach requires you to first ask what kind of person should you be (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, J., & Meyer, 2005b). This method assumes that there are particular ideals that we should strive towards.

One question I believe should be asked when talking about deception is, 'Is the company, in question, practicing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?' In this paper, I will provide some examples of CSRs.

I will also discuss what I see as false claims made by Volvo in its monster truck ads. I will reflect on findings from my research on this ad and Volvo's stacked vehicles ads.

Lastly, I will thrash out Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, J., & Meyer's (2005a) critical thinking framework for making ethical decisions. In the end, I will tell what I thought Volvo's intentions were and if they were ethical or unethical.

Deception in Advertising:

Volvo's "Bear Foot" Misstep

Ethical Decision-Making Approach

The ethical decision-making approach that best matches the manner in which I make ethical decisions is the Virtue Approach. This kind of approach assumes that there are particular ideals that we should strive towards. Virtues are character traits that allow us to be and act in ways that help us develop to our highest potential (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, J., & Meyer, 2005b). Virtues are attitudes such as self-control, fairness, generosity, compassion, honesty, and courage. Virtues are similar to habits; they become someone's personal characteristics. When faced with an ethical dilemma, I use the Virtue Approach by first asking what kind of person should I be (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, J., & Meyer, 2005b).

What is Deception in Advertising?

Deception in marketing is a fuzzy subject. Many think that ethics is an oxymoron. Most companies...