Without getting too metaphysical here, beliefs can, if not shape, distort reality.

For example, one of the purposes of fancy, polished, sleek TV automobile ads is to reassure buyers of that particular car that they made the right purchase ("Dude, that's my car!")

Similarly, our beliefs are self-reinforcing. Like imagine you had a conflict with a co-worker because he wronged you in some way. Even if he tries to make up, you may continue to filter all his actions through the he-wronged-me or what-is-he-really-trying-to-do filter. Even if his intentions are honest and beneficial.

There is a bit of a conspiracy theorist in all of us. Either you can believe people are out to get you or take situations as they come, without judgement.

Latest research using functional MRI imaging actually points to strangers mirroring another's emotions at a very low base mental level. For example, if you believe cute women make you nervous, you will become nervous. And, as fMRI reveals they will sympathetically identify with your nervousness and feel anxiety/nervousness themselves. Which is kind of vicious circle (I'm making her nervous because I am nervous. Why did I go on this date?)

Sorry, I deleted that without knowing you were composing a reply. Metaphysical. I guess we are at that edge with metaphysics where we know there's a lot out there we don't know and we have to decide if we want to investigate it or not. I suppose it is the same scientifically as well.

We don't want to go build a collider that could create a black hole big enough to envelop the earth, but really, how big is that?

I don't believe that the purpose of advertisements is to reassure customers AFTER they've spent the money. That doesn't make sense to me. Future sale is influenced by good service over the length of ownership. I don't agree that post-sale ego-stroking is even a factor.

I do however believe and agree that beliefs are self reinforcing (see I failed again, just like I knew I would)

Well, you just convinced me you believe that, thereby demonstrating that "b" is easier than "a". Congrats!

However, you are still wrong. At one point the US National Government spent $1/4 mil per year in attempts to convince people who had bought American-made cars that they had made a good choice. (I don't know current stats, and know that I don't know them.)

Think of it this way: If you can convince people who bought your product to feel good about their decision then they will speak well of your product to others. Reputation and word of mouth are both powerful and worth investing in.

Special case there, the US Govt isn't a car manufacturer per-se. That's just the equivalent of the Buy British message from the UK government.

I don't see BMW, say, doing these kinds of ads and they seem quite popular.