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Edward Bernays, nephew of Simund Freud, was a pioneer in the field of public relations and is often referred to as the "father of public relations". Born on 22 November 1891 and died on 9 March 1995, Bernays was an Austrian-American public relations consultant and propaganda expert who had a significant impact on the development of advertising, propaganda and public relations in the 20th century.
Bernays was known for his work in introducing the principles of psychology and sociology into the world of advertising and propaganda. He argued that people's opinions and decisions could be influenced by unconscious and emotional stimuli, and he developed techniques to use these insights.
A famous example of his work was the campaign to promote cigarette smoking among women in the 1920s. Bernays linked smoking to the pursuit of equality and freedom, creating a social acceptance for smoking among women.
Bernays' work had a major impact on the way products and ideas are marketed and disseminated in modern society. At the same time, however, concerns have been raised about the ethics and manipulation of the public through his methods.
Although his methods are controversial, Edward Bernays is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the field of public relations and propaganda of the 20th century.