Age, Biography and Wiki

Vance Packard was born on 22 May, 1914 in Granville Summit, Pennsylvania, U.S., is an American journalist and social critic (1914–1996). Discover Vance Packard's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 82 years old?

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Occupation Journalist, social critic, and author
Age 82 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 22 May 1914
Birthday 22 May
Birthplace Granville Summit, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of death 12 December, 1996
Died Place Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 22 May. He is a member of famous journalist with the age 82 years old group.

Vance Packard Height, Weight & Measurements

At 82 years old, Vance Packard height not available right now. We will update Vance Packard's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
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Who Is Vance Packard's Wife?

His wife is Virginia Matthews

Family
Parents Philip J. Packard Mabel Case Packard
Wife Virginia Matthews
Sibling Not Available
Children 2 sons, 1 daughter

Vance Packard Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Vance Packard worth at the age of 82 years old? Vance Packard’s income source is mostly from being a successful journalist. He is from United States. We have estimated Vance Packard's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income journalist

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Timeline

1914

Vance Oakley Packard (May 22, 1914 – December 12, 1996) was an American journalist and social critic.

He was the author of several books, including The Hidden Persuaders and The Naked Society.

He was a critic of consumerism.

Vance Packard was born on May 22, 1914, in Granville Summit, Pennsylvania, to Philip J. Packard and Mabel Case Packard.

1920

Between 1920 and 1932, he attended local public schools in State College, Pennsylvania, where his father managed a dairy farm owned by the Pennsylvania State College (later Penn State University).

He identified himself as a "farm boy" throughout his life, although he moved to State College and in later life lived in affluent areas.

1932

In 1932, he entered Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B.A. degree, majoring in English.

1936

He graduated in 1936, and worked briefly for the local newspaper, the Centre Daily Times.

1937

He earned his master's degree at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1937.

Packard joined the Boston Daily Record as a staff reporter in 1937.

1940

He became a reporter for the Associated Press around 1940, and in 1942, joined the staff of The American Magazine as a section editor, later becoming a staff writer.

1956

That periodical closed in July, 1956, and Packard became a writer at Collier's.

After its closing by the end of the year, he devoted his full attention to developing book-length projects of his own.

Halfway into the next year, his The Hidden Persuaders was published to national attention, launching him into a career as a full-time social critic, lecturing and developing further books.

He was a critic of consumerism, which he viewed as an attack on the traditional American way of life.

1957

In The Hidden Persuaders, first published in 1957, Packard explored advertisers' use of consumer motivational research and other psychological techniques, including depth psychology and Subliminal tactics, to manipulate expectations and induce desire for products, particularly in the American postwar era.

He identified eight "compelling needs" that advertisers promise products will fulfill (Emotional Security, Reassurance of worth, Ego gratification, Creative outlets, Love objects, Sense of power, Roots, Immortality).

According to Packard, these needs are so strong that people are compelled to buy products merely to satisfy those needs.

The book also explores the manipulative techniques of promoting politicians to the electorate.

Additionally, the book questions the morality of using these techniques.

While the book was a top-seller among middle-class audiences, it was widely criticised by marketing researchers and advertising executives as carrying a sensationalist tone and containing unsubstantiated assertions.

1964

In his 1964 book called The Naked Society, Packard criticized advertisers' unfettered use of private information to create marketing schemes.

He compared a recent Great Society initiative by then-president Lyndon B. Johnson, the National Data Bank, to the use of information by advertisers and argued for increased data privacy measures to ensure that information did not find its way into the wrong hands.

The essay led Congress to create the Special Subcommittee on the Invasion of Privacy and inspired privacy advocates such as Neil Gallagher and Sam Ervin to fight Johnson's flagrant disregard for consumer privacy.

Packard was married to Virginia Matthews; they had two sons and a daughter.

They resided in New Canaan, Connecticut and Martha's Vineyard.

1996

He died in 1996 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

2020

In July 2020, an academic description reported on the nature and rise of the "robot prosumer", derived from modern-day technology and related participatory culture, that, in turn, was substantially predicted earlier by science fiction writers, as well as Packard.