Archetypes Comprehensive Flashcards
(58 cards)
Carl Jung (Who was he?)
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. He proposed and developed the concepts of the collective unconscious, archetypes, and individuation. His work has been influential in psychiatry, anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religious studies.
The Collective Unconscious
According to Jung, this is a layer of the unconscious mind that is inherited and shared by all of humanity. It is composed of archetypes, which are universal patterns and images. It is distinct from the personal unconscious, which contains an individual’s own repressed thoughts and memories.
What is a Jungian Archetype?
An archetype is a universal, innate, and inherited pattern of thought or symbolic image that resides in the collective unconscious. They are ‘forms without content’ that act as organizing principles for human experience and behavior. Examples include the Hero, the Mother, and the Shadow.
What is Individuation?
Individuation is the central concept of Jungian psychology; it’s the lifelong process of psychological differentiation, where the individual develops into their whole, unique self. The goal is to integrate the conscious and unconscious parts of the psyche, including the archetypes, to achieve a state of wholeness (The Self).
The Self
Description: The central archetype representing the unified consciousness and unconsciousness of an individual. It is the ordering principle of the psyche and the goal of individuation. Key Info/Connections: The ultimate goal of the psychological journey Jung called ‘Individuation’. It encompasses all other archetypes. Often symbolized by a circle, mandala, or a divine figure.
The Self (Positive Aspects)
Wholeness, integration, balance, self-realization, centeredness, sense of purpose and meaning.
The Self (Negative Aspects)
If the ego identifies with the Self, it leads to inflation, narcissism, megalomania, or a god-complex.
The Persona
Description: The social mask or ‘face’ an individual presents to the world. It is a necessary interface between the ego and society, designed for social acceptance and interaction. Key Info/Connections: A common pitfall is ‘Persona-identification,’ where the person believes they are the mask they wear. It is the outermost layer of the psyche.
The Persona (Positive Aspects)
Facilitates social adaptation, protects the individual’s true self from public scrutiny, allows for smooth social functioning.
The Persona (Negative Aspects)
Over-identification with the Persona leads to a loss of true identity, feelings of emptiness, phoniness, and alienation from the Self.
The Shadow
Description: The unconscious, repressed part of the personality that the ego does not identify with. It contains primitive instincts, weaknesses, and socially unacceptable thoughts and desires, but also hidden strengths. Key Info/Connections: ‘Meeting the Shadow’ is the first and crucial step in individuation. Jung considered its integration to be the ‘apprentice-piece’ of personal development.
The Shadow (Positive Aspects)
Integrating the Shadow leads to greater self-awareness, authenticity, creativity, and vitality. It is a source of immense energy and can contain positive qualities.
The Shadow (Negative Aspects)
If unintegrated, it is projected onto others, leading to prejudice, hypocrisy, destructive behavior, and self-sabotage.
The Anima
Description: The unconscious feminine aspect within a man’s psyche. It represents a man’s capacity for relatedness, emotion, intuition, and his inner image of the feminine. Key Info/Connections: Often develops in stages (e.g., Eve, Helen, Mary, Sophia). A man’s relationship with his mother is a primary influence on his Anima development.
The Anima (Positive Aspects)
A well-integrated Anima fosters creativity, empathy, a capacity for loving relationships, and a deeper connection to the inner world and the unconscious.
The Anima (Negative Aspects)
A negative or unintegrated Anima can cause moodiness, irrationality, and possessiveness. It can lead to unrealistic projections onto women.
The Animus
Description: The unconscious masculine aspect within a woman’s psyche. It represents a woman’s capacity for logic, reason, assertiveness, and focused thought. Key Info/Connections: Like the Anima, it develops in stages (e.g., the physical man, the man of action, the man of words, the wise guide). Influenced by a woman’s relationship with her father.
The Animus (Positive Aspects)
A well-integrated Animus provides assertiveness, courage, clear thinking, and the ability to bring ideas into reality. It connects a woman to her inner source of meaning.
The Animus (Negative Aspects)
A negative Animus can manifest as rigid opinions, argumentativeness, and a destructive, critical attitude, often projected onto men.
The Great Mother
Description: A powerful dual-natured archetype representing both nurturing and destructive aspects of motherhood, nature, and the unconscious itself. Key Info/Connections: A foundational archetype in the collective unconscious. It is tied to the concept of birth, death, and rebirth.
The Great Mother (Positive Aspects)
(Nurturing Mother) Represents care, compassion, fertility, growth, nourishment, and unconditional love.
The Great Mother (Negative Aspects)
(Devouring Mother) Represents smothering, possessiveness, seduction, and the inability to let go, which can stifle an individual’s growth and autonomy.
The Wise Old Man
Description: An archetype of wisdom, knowledge, guidance, and meaning. Often appears in dreams and myths as a teacher, mentor, guru, or wizard. Key Info/Connections: Also known as the Senex or Sage. For a man, it can represent the Self; for a woman, it is a common form of the Animus.
The Wise Old Man (Positive Aspects)
Embodies wisdom, sound judgment, intuition, and the ability to see the bigger picture. Provides guidance on the life journey.
