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Documentary•War & Politics

The Best Episodes of The Century of the Self

Every episode of The Century of the Self ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Century of the Self!

Binge this in 3h 52m•Peaking at 8.5/10

The legacy of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud informs the lives of people throughout the world even to this day, though it's a phenomenon to which most are unaware. The film is an exhaustive examination of

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Century of the Self Season 1 Episode 1 - Happiness Machines
    8.5/10(296 votes)

    #1 - Happiness Machines

    S1:E1

    The story of the relationship between Sigmund Freud and his American nephew, Edward Bernays. Bernays invented the public relations profession in the 1920s and was the first person to take Freud's ideas to manipulate the masses. He showed American corporations how they could make people want things they didn't need by systematically linking mass-produced goods to their unconscious desires.

    Director:Adam Curtis
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Century of the Self Season 1 Episode 2 - The Engineering of Consent
    8.4/10(213 votes)

    #2 - The Engineering of Consent

    S1:E2

    The programme explores how those in power in post-war America used Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind to try and control the masses.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Century of the Self Season 1 Episode 3 - There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads. He Must Be Destroyed
    8.4/10(183 votes)

    #3 - There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads. He Must Be Destroyed

    S1:E3

    In the 1960s, a radical group of psychotherapists challenged the influence of Freudian ideas in America. They were inspired by the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, a pupil of Freud's, who had turned against him and was hated by the Freud family. He believed that the inner self did not need to be repressed and controlled. It should be encouraged to express itself.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Century of the Self Season 1 Episode 4 - Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering
    8.2/10(173 votes)

    #4 - Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering

    S1:E4

    How both the Labour Party in Britain and the Democrats in America have sought to gain power through use of the focus group, invented by psychoanalysts to fulfil desires of the inner self.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Happiness Machines" is the best rated episode of "The Century of the Self". It scored 8.5/10 based on 296 votes. Directed by Adam Curtis and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/17/2002. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Engineering of Consent".