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!

#1 Fan Favorite
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8.5/10(311 votes)
#1 - Happiness Machines
S1:E13/17/2002
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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Director:Adam Curtis
Writer:Unknown
8.4/10(224 votes)
#2 - The Engineering of Consent
S1:E23/24/2002
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.3/10(193 votes)
#3 - There Is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads. He Must Be Destroyed
S1:E33/31/2002
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
8.2/10(182 votes)
#4 - Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering
S1:E44/7/2002
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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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown

The Best Episodes of The Century of the Self

Seasons1

#1 - Happiness Machines

#2 - The Engineering of Consent

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

#4 - Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering

Best Episodes Summary

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The Best Episodes of The Century of the Self

Seasons1

Episode Rankings

#1 - Happiness Machines

#2 - The Engineering of Consent

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

#4 - Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering

Best Episodes Summary

Keep going

Browse The Century of the Self by season

If you like The Century of the Self