Carl Jung and Psychology

1. Carl Jung and Psychology James A. Van Slyke

2. Carl Jung (1875-1961) • Swiss Psychiatrist • Father – Protestant Minister • Mother – Interested in Spirituality • Part of Freud’s original analytic group • Later parted ways with Freud over differences • Freud did not like Jung’s preoccupation with Religion • Caused a psychotic breakdown for Jung

3. Carl Jung (1875-1961) • Analysis of dreams, practicing psychoanalytic psychologist • Also studied the unconscious, but suggested a different personality structure • Strongly influenced by Christianity, but also Eastern religions • Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism • Interested in integrating opposing forces • Yin and Yang

4. Jung’s Psychology • Ego – Conscious aspect of the person • Unconscious • Similar to Freud’s • Unconscious is primary force in thought and behavior • Libido – psychic instinctual energy • Not necessarily sexual or aggressive • Principle of the opposites • Structures of the psyche are antithetical pairs • Light vs. Dark • Principle of entropy - Psyche seeks out balance

5. Jung’s Psychology • Personal Unconscious • Each person has an individualized unconscious • Suppressed, forgotten memories, traumas, etc. • Collective Unconscious • Predates individual unconscious • Repository of religious, spiritual, and mythological symbols and experiences • Universal structure across different cultures • Cultural and Religious stories and narratives return to common themes

6. Jung’s Psychology • Archetypes • Primary structures of the collective unconscious • Similar to platonic forms • Jung’s description • “conceptual matrixes or patterns behind all our religious and mythological concepts, and indeed, our thinking processes in general.”

7. Jung’s Psychology • Archetypes • “Patterns of instinctual behavior” that are manifested according to the current cultural context, yet “a priori” • Can only be partially known and grasped • “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor 13:11-13

8. Jung’s psychology • Archetypes • Paired opposites that must be integrated into the personality • Anima – feminine part of the self • Animus – masculine part of the self • Light vs. Dark • Shadow – Dark side of the personality • Negative aspects of the self must be integrated into the whole • Religious symbols and rituals allow us to deal with the unconscious

9. Jung and Religion • Concerned about secularization and scientism (reductionism) • Religion is an important aspect of being human (Religious Self) • Helps to harmonize conscious and unconscious states • Secularization leads to a “rootless” existence • Religion is the best avenue to the unconscious • Individuation • Primary means for spiritual growth • Reuniting unconscious material with consciousness to achieve wholeness

10. Jung and Religion • Religious Symbols • Allow us to look at the unconscious • Shield us from direct contact • Offer new knowledge • Compensate for what is missing • Empower the transformation • Bridge conscious and unconscious to lead toward wholeness • Must be experienced rather than understood

11. Jung and Religion • Mandala • Art piece • Draws one toward the center • Spirituality should draw one toward the center • Self and God archetype • Religion and psychology cannot be separated; intrinsic to each other • Transcendent function of personality • Acceptance of shadow and other unconscious material • Leads to inner healing

12. Archetypes & Star Wars • Characters, Situations and Symbols in stories • Hero – Luke Skywalker • Reflects youthfulness • Usually called to a quest or mission • Represents the ego • Tries to overcome tensions in the unconscious • Wise Old man (Mentor) – Obi Wan and Yoda • Teaches the hero the nature of the psyche • Helps them toward maturity

13. Joseph Campbell • The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) • The Masks of God (1969) • Myths and stories continually return to common themes • Myths (religious or otherwise) ways in which cultures transmit values and mores • Religions are the “masks” that reflect the same fundamental transcendent truths

14. Joseph Campbell • Monomyth • Departure • Call to Adventure • Refusal • Supernatural Aid • Initiation • The Road of many Trials • Temptation • Confront the evil inside (Shadow or Father) • Reach the goal • Return to share what you have learned

15. Archetypes & Star Wars • Symbols • The Force • Dark Side – The Shadow • Luke must overcome and learn to control the shadow • Integrate into his own conscious • Movement from Denial to Acceptance • Religions often have similar structure • Struggle with dark side • Sin • Evil • Religious heroes overcome evil with the help of God

16. Jung & Christianity • How do we understand the relationship between, religion, mythology and Christ? • Exclusivist – there is no truth outside of the Christian faith • Inclusivist • C.S. Lewis – Christianity is the only true myth • Different religions mirror the transcendent in different ways, but Christ is the closest to God • Universalism • All religions approximate the transcendent to a different degree