The Century of the Self plot
The common thread of the series is Freud's theory of psychoanalysis and how it has been used and abused by various people over the years to manipulate the general public. In The Century of the Self, Curtis focuses mainly on politics and large business. Important characters in the series are Freud's cousin Edward Bernays (one of the founders of public relations), Freud's daughter and child psychologist Anna Freud and Wilhelm Reich, one of Freud's biggest critics. In the course of the 20th century, they developed into the basis of major influences on consumer society and influencing modern democracy. The Century of the Self covers the event from Genesis, early twentieth century, to its present manifestations. The political relationships and strategies in particular in England (Labour versus the Conservative Party) and the United States (the growing influence of the Neo-Conservatives) in the early 21st century serve as an illustration.