So you are basically attempting to teach people to cold read but your second example is way off base. You read the second situation(airport one) wrong even if it was your own example that you made up.
I also don't agree with your liberal use of the term cult but I know it's a bit subjective. Targeted advertising that has the effect of planting an image in your head so when you see that image you want to buy said product isn't "cult-ish". It is a mild form of brainwashing.