Edward Bernays [6] The engineering of consent

Edward Bernays

Bernays' public relations efforts helped to popularize Freud's theories in the United States. Bernays also pioneered the public relations industry's use of psychology and other social sciences to design its public persuasion campaigns: "If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it? The recent practice of propaganda has proved that it is possible, at least up to a certain point and within certain limits" [~Edward Bernays | Propaganda (1928)]. He called this scientific technique of opinion-molding the engineering of consent.

Reference: Edward Bernays

Edward Bernays [5] The ploy to shape consumer culture

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Intrigued by Freud's notion that irrational forces drive human behavior, Bernays sought to harness those forces to sell products for his clients. In his 1928 book, "Propaganda," Bernays hypothesized that by understanding the group mind, it would be possible to manipulate people's behavior without their even realizing it. To test this hypothesis, Bernays launched one of his most famous public relations campaigns: convincing women to smoke.

~Lisa Held

Psychoanalysis shapes consumer culture: Or how Sigmund Freud, his nephew and a box of cigars forever changed American marketing

Edward Bernays [4] The art of public manipulation

Edward Bernays realized that he could use products to appeal not to a person's rationality but to [his or her] emotions, just by making a person feel special, powerful, sexy, independent, proud, happy or excited. He could manipulate general masses.

Armenian Genocide - The forgotten holocaust

I was only 12 years old. They took all my school teachers away. They never came back.

~Perouze Ipekjian
Armenian genocide survivor

Armenian Genocide - A personal survivor story

The Armenian Journey - A Story of an Armenian Genocide: From Despair to Hope in Rhode Island, a film by The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), tells the story of Armenian Genocide survivor Margaret Garabedian Der Manuelian; told through the narrative voice of her great-granddaughter, 21-year old Dalita Getzoyan. 

A new friend spoke about the Armenian genocide, beginning in 1915, and I didn't know about it. Now I know a little bit more.

Her surviving family members fled to Lebanon, and that is where she was born. Everyone - every Armenian - learns about the genocide while growing up.

But she doesn't harbor ill will toward the Turks, she said, adding that she's forgiven them.

"But you don't forget," I remarked.

"You don't forget," she confirmed.

[2] Bernie Sanders' home state rocks for working moms!

Reference: Bernie Sanders' Vermont Is #1 For Working Moms

[1] Bernie Sanders' home state rocks for working moms!

If such support for working moms, and women in general, can happen in Bernie Sanders' home state, I wonder if it can happen in Bernie Sanders' country - i.e. as its President.