Edward Bernays was Sigmund Freud’s nephew. He was also one of the most influential propagandists of his day. Bernays applied his talent mainly to advertising, where he saw himself as sort of a benevolent manipulator.
Bernays played the long game in advertising/propaganda, thinking years and sometimes decades ahead. His goal wasn’t to persuade you to buy a widget today. It was to change your worldview so you eventually buy the widget “of your own accord,” as if it were your decision alone to buy it without any hint (or awareness) of sales pressure.
Rather than sell you a piano, Bernays would promote the idea of a “music room” in every American household.