Research Paper on "Carl Jung's Theory of Psychoanalysis on Personality"

Research Paper 10 pages (2689 words) Sources: 6

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Jung

Carl Jung: Theory & Critique

Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology in the early 20th century, has had a lasting influence on the field. His exploration of the human psyche led him to connect psychology to art, religion, folklore, sociology, and philosophy. He was a pioneer of dream analysis, and suggested that integrating the study of the unconscious with individual spirituality would enhance the profession. Among his most durable contributions is his theoretical approach to understanding personality. This theory may be divided into three components for discussion here: individuation, the collective unconscious, and archetype.

These components of Jung's theory do not directly define or explain personality formation. Thus, the approach taken here is to explain the fundamental parameters of Jung's work and then, after each piece is summarized, make more explicit connections to personality. The popular Myers-Briggs personality test will be profiled as it captures his contribution in that realm and demonstrates some modern practical uses of Jung's theory.

Jung's Theory

Individuation

Jung charted out human development into two stages: the natural phase, which is the first half of life, and the cultural phase, which is the second half. Transitioning between these two phases can be perilous, and Jung calls the shift out of youth the "dangerous age." The tasks facing people during their natural phase are largely external, such establishing a family and a career. The cultural phase is an internal project, where people struggle to find meaning in life. This search for meaning is individuation.

Individuation may be understood to be the "process of maturation in which the psyche ages or matures in much the same manner as the physical body." (Schuelers) According to Jung, this process cannot occur unless a person becomes aware of his/her archetypal spirit (see Archetype, below). Once a person has become conscious of what is otherwise hidden in the unconscious -- most likely through a process of intensive psychoanalysis -- s/he will experience self-realization. This process is not easy.

For Jung, achieving individuation means coming to terms with ones "true personality." He insists that this is universal process; that is, people everywhere find themselves searching for meaning as they shift from the external demands of youth into their adulthood. Individuation may occur following a personal crisis such as the loss of a job or relationship. It may also be prompted by internal doubt or religious questioning. Regardless of the instigating forces, the search for meaning can be profound:

" Those personal aspects which have heretofore been disregarded -- be they interests, talents, characteristics, experiences, or issues -- now come forth to be acknowledged. That which was fragmented now strives for unity. That which was broken now yearns for wholeness. That which was neglected now seeks expression. That which was previously formless in nature suddenly begins to take a new shape, strangely in keeping with what feels like a unique and deeply ingrained individual patterning. There is something in the human psyche, which in its own fullness of time, struggles to produce the 'true personality'" (Jungian Analytic Praxis)

Thus, according to Jung, most people do not develop one set personality type at birth. Instead, a person is likely to have some foundational personality traits but even these may be up for change during individuation. Not until adulthood does a person's true personality emerge, and then it is only following an extended period of introspection and self-discovery. Personality is dynamic.

The Collective Unconscious

Sigmund Freud was the reigning leader of the psychoanalytic field when Carl Jung emerged. The two men were initially friends and colleagues, but their famous break occurred over the concept of the collective unconscious. Jung speculated that the unconscious, a prominent piece of Freud's theory, had in fact many common features across time and cultures. That is, Jung argued that people everywhere experience similar fears, behaviors and thoughts. He supplied evidence for this argument by pointing to infants' fear of the dark, attachment for their mothers, and other common features that transcend cultural context. Furthermore, Jung noted that images like the sun, the moon, angels, and others are prevalent in all cultures throughout history; these common experiences suggest that all people are pulling from a collective unconscious.

Jung clearly separates his concept of the collective unconscious from Freud's idea of a personal unconscious: "While the personal unconscious is made up essentially of contents which have at one time been conscious but which have disappeared from consciousness through having been forgotten or repressed, the contents of the collective unconscious have never been individually acquired, but owe their existence exclusively to heredity." (Jung)

He goes on to argue that mentally ill patients suffer from being haunted by these collective ghosts. The solution, he suggests, is to understand our mythologies and thereby move these ghosts away from being threatening and instead into representations of our collective humanity (Boeree). However, Jung is certain that the collective unconscious can never become conscious. It is, by definition, unconscious. All people can hope to do is to understand it by watching the influences it has over our own lives and personalities. In particular, Jung argues that familiar feelings such as deja vu and falling in love are manifestations of the collective unconscious. Creative people are especially attune with these forces, as they are able to channel these unconscious images into art.

What does the existence of the collective unconscious suggest about personality? Unlike personality traits that emerge during individuation, these unconscious elements are perhaps unchanging. Indeed, if the collective unconscious draws on a similar set of images and influences for all people throughout time and culture, then there seems to be some boundaries on what individuation may create. In the next section this tension becomes a bit clearer.

Archetypes

If there is such a thing as a collective unconscious, then, Jung argued, all people have unconscious access to the same set of "primordial images" that underlie personality. These archetypes are functions of mythology, and might be considered "an unlearned tendency to experience things in a certain way." (Boeree). Three archetypes in particular have been discussed at length: the animus / anima, the shadow, and the self. The animus / anima are two sides of the same coin; the animus is the masculine side in women and the anima is the feminine side in men. Thus, "according to Jung, we all have an unconscious opposite gender hidden within us and the role of this archetype is to guide us toward the perfect mate." (Heffner). All people have these mirrors that reflect their own opposites in gender and sexuality.

Jung believed that all people were inherently bi-sexual. According to this theory, humans become one gender or another as a product of socialization and the internalization of external expectations. These expectations effectively limit our experience, according to Jung, and the anima/animus is the remnants of our whole self.

The shadow archetype is the dark side of our personality. Jung notes that all cultures have incorporated the existence of the shadow. For example, in Christianity, the shadow is the devil. We may understand the origins of the shadow to come from "our pre-human, animal past, when concerns were limited to survival and reproduction, and when we weren't self-conscious." (Boeree). Many people seek to repress their shadow, but Jung believes that the shadow is neither good nor evil. It simply exists.

Jung argues that the best way to approach and ultimately understand the shadow is through dream analysis, since dreams are direct channels for the unconscious. In order to individuate, or experience the whole self, people must "confront and accept" (Schuelers) the shadow. For example, if a snake, a monster, or a dragon appears in a dream, these images are likely to be symbols of the shadow.

Many other archetypes exist in Jung's theory, many of them found in mythology. He created a complex model whereby archetypes such as the trickster, the mother, the father, and the "original man" all represent fundamental components of humanity. As with the shadow, these archetypes will be found in symbolic form in dreams.

The existence of archetypes might provide a solution to the problem raised in the section above. We might consider the role of archetypes in personality formation as the mediating element between the individual process of individuation and the collective context of the unconscious. Archetypes are something of a multiple choice, allowing people to select from a limited number of options as they move through life. Personalities may be, in this way, both individual and collective; both static and dynamic.

The Self

The self is the unifying whole that people compile unconsciously. It is the most important archetype because it represents the unity of the personality and the "transcendence of all opposites so that every aspect of your personality is expressed equally" (Boeree). That is, connecting various archetypes and primordial images, individuals manage to develop a complete personality. As described above, the self is the final product of self-realization, or individuation. Thus, as a person begins to understand the shadow and the… READ MORE

How to Reference "Carl Jung's Theory of Psychoanalysis on Personality" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Behavior and Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Developing My Personal Style Term Paper

Personal Counseling Theory

Traditional counseling theories have varied in their background, purpose, application, and treatment methods. Over this past semester, I have been exposed to a number of different counseling… read more

Term Paper 18 pages (5141 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

Historical Background of Psychoanalysis Term Paper

Psychoanalysis

It is Sigmund Freud who created the study but the concept of psychoanalysis did not stop with psychology. In the broad context of the study of mankind, sociology has… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (3164 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

Freud Jung and Rogers Essay

Axia College Material

TV Character Evaluation

Write a summary of 350-700 words identifying the contributions of Freud, Jung, and Rogers.

Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the father… read more

Essay 2 pages (787 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

Sufism Jung Kabbalah Thesis

Sufism, Jung, Kaballah

Interfaith dialogue and Peace

Interfaith dialogue and Peace negotiations: Jewish Kabbalah, Islamic Sufism and Jung

The present political situation in the world over the last decade has… read more

Thesis 20 pages (5989 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Religion / God / Theology

---

Development of Abnormal Disorder Term Paper

Psychoanalysis

From a psychoanalytic perspective, Lamanda is suffering from ego identity confusion (Erikson, 1968) that is manifesting itself in symptoms of depression, marked by a lack of interest, anxiety and… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (962 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>