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Suggestibility to propaganda varies with the degree of the individual's independence or maturity. This, in turn, reflects the extent of the assimilation of the ideal parent figures, which, if predominantly good and helpful, were readily absorbed to form the foundation of a well-balanced and independent character. Predominantly bad parent figures are difficult to absorb, arouse anxiety, and remain in the unconscious as internal persecutors with a resulting character development of dependency, readily influenced by others.
Suggestibility also depends upon the source of propaganda. People are particularly sensitive to the influence of a good parent figure sought in the external world to protect them from persecution by bad 'internal' parent figures. To be effective, propaganda must correspond with or symbolize existing unconscious fantasies. It should begin with an appeal to fear by pointing out symbols of bad parents, thus arousing unconscious fantasies for which can then be erected compensatory symbols of good parents to lend support in facing reality dangers greater than the imaginary ones created by the appeal to fear.