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The Best Episodes of The Century of the Self Season 1

Every episode of The Century of the Self Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Century of the Self Season 1!

Binge this in 3h 52m·Peaking at 8.5/10
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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Century of the Self Season 1 Episode 1 - Happiness Machines
    8.5/10(311 votes)

    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(224 votes)

    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
    8.3/10(193 votes)

    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(182 votes)

    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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Happiness Machines" is the best rated episode of The Century of the Self season 1. It scored 8.5/10 from 311 votes. Directed by Adam Curtis and written by Unknown, it aired on March 17, 2002. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Engineering of Consent".