Edward Bernays, the grandfather and inventor of PR, was one of the most influential men in history.
His uncle was Sigmund Freud (yes, that one) and he was very quick to jump on psychology and how it could be used to manipulate the masses.
PR itself is just a rebranding of propaganda
He used feminisism in the 1920s to sell cigarettes to women, making them think it was a defiant act.
He distabilized and had Guatemala couped, on behalf of the largest fruit producing private corporation, when the country's leader tried to implement better Labor Laws and rights.
He's the reason bacon and eggs are a staple in the American breakfast.
He sold America's intervention in WW1 to the public as the US 'Bring Democracy To Europe'.
He's the reason why you think there are 'Left vs Right' wings in politics, a model of narrative control implemented during McCarthism. Prior, people focussed on policy.
He is what shifted American purchasing from needs based to wants. Creating demands for products that people otherwise never would have bought.
It's all about making you think it's your own idea, when, really, it was a seed planted by someone else.
Everything from the Food Pyramid, 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day', shifting climate damage blame to consumers, how schools are structured, anti drug campaigns, you're ideas of what freedom is, that the US is a democracy, to what you buy and why has all been instilled in you by someone else.
They manufacture your compliance and consent
All so someone can profit off you.
Sources
https://youtu.be/qR1FIdM10hw – the rebranding of propaganda to PR
https://youtu.be/8Q-3qwEDyPM – video run down of points mentioned above
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward Bernays – life and over veiw
https://youtu.be/y-4AulOuCPI – 1985 interview on Lettermen
https://youtu.be/rg1jOLBzvvY – 30 minutes interview in 1986
https://youtu.be/Wzo1MLYNjBM – the manipulation of feminists and suffragettes to sell cigarettes, aka 'Torches of Freedom'
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/12/10/edward-bernays-propaganda-and-the-u-s-backed-1954-guatemalan-coup/ – Coup of Guatemala
https://stillnessinthestorm.com/2022/05/the-psychology-of-manipulation-lessons-learned-from-the-master-of-propaganda/ – Psychology and how he abused it.