C. G. Jung

1. C. G. Jung and the Theory of the Collective Unconscious

2. Freud vs. Jung

3. Jung’s Theory of the Unconscious • Does not agree with Freud regarding the influence of instincts or the importance of the libido in psychological development (sorry, no psychosexual stages) • Major contribution = identification of a collective unconscious: areservoir of human experiences, or “race memories,” with which all humans are born.

4. The collective unconscious can be identified through similarities in: • the archetypal images and patterns found in world myths and in fairy tales • déjà vu experiences • love at first sight experiences • “near death” experiences

5. Archetypes: symbols that all humans recognize and understand; “original models” • fulfill/represent a human spiritual need • can overlap (Hero can be Scapegoat, Wizard can be Mentor, etc.) • cannot be altered by our conscious experiences. • archetypalimages---the forms the archetypes take---can seem distinctive, but the urge for archetypes is such a human imperative, that the same archetypes appear in all cultures: • Example, humans always recognize the Hero, but archetypal images of the Hero would be Beowulf, or Odysseus, or Frodo Baggins, depending upon the culture.

6. Archetypes • Cannot be altered by our conscious experiences. • while archetypalimages---the forms the archetypes take---can seem distinctive, the urge for archetypes is such a human imperative, that the same archetypes appear in all cultures. • Example, humans always recognize the Hero, but archetypal images of the Hero would be Beowulf, or Odysseus, or Frodo Baggins, depending upon the culture.

7. The Mother Archetype • Good Mother: biological imperative for a nurturing figure • Terrible Mother: societal imperative for maturation

8. Mana • Spiritual power • often represented by phallic symbols. • Freudian analysis of a light saber duel: two Jedi fighting over whose, well, saber, was bigger • Jungian analysis: a battle for spiritual supremacy. That’s a big difference (pardon the pun).

9. The Persona • Akin to Freud’s concept of the Ego. • Taking the meaning from its Greek origin, the persona is the mask one shows to the world. • Strongly affected by societal expectations. (Gender, for example, often affects the persona.)

10. The Shadow • The dark side of every human being. • It houses aspects of ourselves that we dislike or wish to disown, and which can possibly turn to evil. • In order to become a sane, healthy individual, Jung believed a person must face his or her Shadow and accept its existence. To ignore the Shadow is to accept a half-life at best…at worst, it can create terrible situations (a la Hitler). • The Shadow is amoral and is not necessarily the Villain in a story.

11. Setting Archetypes • The Forest (yonic): the unconscious mind; a place of hidden fears / dangers / desires that must be faced and accepted/overcome • Water (yonic): transformation; birth or rebirth • Crossing The River: rebirth • Riding down The River: journey, maturation • The Ocean: the unconscious mind (like The Forest) • The Garden (yonic): growth; fertility; security; fecundity; paradise • Garden of Eden • The Path: the right or true way through life; the path of righteousness • Leaving the Path, for Puritan and other religions = Sin

12. The Self • The archetype of the Self is the ultimate goal in Jungian psychology. The Self represents you, with all of the facets of your personality expressed equally. You are at peace with yourself and one with the universe.