In order to obtain empirical evidence about the possible impact of certain persuasive techniques used and discussed in the advertising world, we compared the responses of 430 college students from five institutions who were exposed, in an experimental design among groups, to a couple of similar advertisements, except for the presence or absence of erotic stimuli, with unconscious phallic, vaginal, coital, oral, and ejaculatory symbolic content, and presenting or not subliminal stimuli. In general terms, we found that the presence of erotic stimuli and unconscious symbolic content does increase the willingness to purchase the products advertised and the preference for the ad, but also produces a higher moral rejection. The opposite occurred when the erotic content was extreme and recognized as such, and, without being recognized, with subliminal stimuli. These results confirm the arguments of some advertising critics who not only report these practices, but also support the justification that some advertisers have for the use of these techniques for their effectiveness.