2E Jung Flashcards
1
Q
What aspects of Freud’s work did Jung agree/disagree with?
A
- Shared a similar view of how the mind works, but realised that Freud’s view of the subconscious was too narrow
- Agreed that r. = a psychological phenomenon but not a neurotic illness caused by sexual trauma, nor that it was dangerous for society (∴ set out to put r. in a more positive light)
2
Q
What were Jung’s key conclusions?
A
- R. = a natural process, stemming from archetypes within the unconscious mind
- R. performs function of harmonising an individual’s psyche
- R. benefits the individual and society
- The removal of r. from society would cause psychological problems
3
Q
What are Jung’s archetypes?
A
- Literally means ‘original patterns’
- They are dynamic, unconscious entities which generate images in the conscious mind but cannot be known directly
- He believed that all of humanity shares a primitive past that directs and influences present behaviour
- They are unlearned and function to organise how we exp. certain things
- Symbols and images from different cultures are often similar ∵ they have emerged from archetypes
4
Q
What is an archetypal figure?
A
- “a tendency to form such representations of a motif”
* The no. of archetypal images = limitless but there are regular patterns of meaning
5
Q
What is the archetype of the Persona?
A
- The mask we wear to make an impression on others
- It may conceal the true nature and represents all social masks
- It is an idealised image and not a true reflection of our personal consciousness
- Can lead to inner conflict + repression of individuality
6
Q
What is the archetype of the Shadow?
A
- The suppressed, unconscious part of the personality
- The side we prefer not to reveal
- Source of creative and destructive energies
- Contrasts the Persona and can be the source of shame and anxiety
- If unrecognised, it is projected on to others who are thought to embody repressed tendencies resident in that person’s psyche
7
Q
What is the archetype of the Anima/Animus?
A
- Inner attitudes taking the characteristics of the opposite sex
- Anima = archetypal image of a woman unconsciously present in every man
- Animus = archetypal image of a man unconsciously present in every woman
8
Q
What is the archetype of the Self?
A
- Represents harmony between various opposing qualities
- Provides a sense of unity and exp.
- The aim of every individual = achieve a sense of “self-hood”
- Impossible to fully embody the Self
9
Q
What is the collective unconscious?
A
- “It has contents and modes of behaviour that are more or less the same everywhere and in all individuals
- Agreed with Freud that the personal unconscious consisted of lost or repressed memories which, for some, take the form of complexes
- However, he regarded repressed material as only one kind of unconscious content; the collective unconscious lies below this
10
Q
What does the psyche consist of?
A
- Ego (consciousness)
- Personal unconscious
- Collective unconscious
11
Q
What does the collective unconscious consist of?
A
• Primordial images derived from early human history which stem from our ancestral past and includeboth human and pre-human exp.s; cannot be traced to an individual’s past exp.s
12
Q
Explain how God is an archetype.
A
- Human images of G = archetypal; we are born w/ a tendency to generate r. images
- The ability to generate G as an archetype = something that all humans have and includes details that are a reflection of the individual’s exp. of the world
- Did not believe that calling G an archetype was negative, nor does it take away from the imp. of r.
- When a human engages w/ the archetype of G., it becomes a r. exp., even if objectively, G does not exist
13
Q
What is individuation?
A
- A process where an individual seeks a wholeness/balance within their life by moving towards the achievement of the Self
- We repress atrriubtes of our true Self ∵ they do not conform to the archetype, but the repressed traits must be integrated into our consciousness if we are to realise our true Self
- Aims to divest the Self of the true wrappings of the Persona and the suggestive power of the primordial images; it balances the contradictory nature of archetypes to unite opposites
14
Q
How are archetypes brought into the consciousness?
A
- From the collective unconscious by symbols
- Archetypal symbols mediate the process of individuation as they express and bring about the union of opposites; images, dogmas and rites form the religious traditions
15
Q
What is the link between archetypes and religion?
A
• Symbolic archetypes connect the idea of G to our human exp. of r.
16
Q
Explain the symbolic archetype of Christ.
A
- Symbolises the necessary sacrifice of the ego in order to become more complete
- The separation of J from G symbolises our human separation from our parents
- Did not mean that J existed in history
- He is perfect, but incomplete as he lacks a Shadow
17
Q
Explain the symbolic archetype of the Eucharist.
A
- Symbolises those who sacrifice the selfish part of the ego, resulting in the Self being transformed
- G sent his own son to be sacrificed but rises again
18
Q
The individuation is the quest to find…
A
- The ‘God within’ and the symbol of the Self
- A r. quest, using r. images to achieve deeper images of the Self
- G = Deep inner reality, not an external object; he is an expression of the collective
19
Q
How does the ‘God within’ link to Rudolf Otto?
A
- R. exp. w/ G. = encounter w/ Self - a feeling of the numinous
- Otto: the numinous is a mysterious and awe-inspiring
20
Q
Why does Jung say that religion is a positive error?
A
• G and r. phenomena draw humans towards psychic wholeness; it provides us with assurance and strength
21
Q
How does Jung link the First World War to religion?
A
- R., social, political certainties = torn down after war; ppl had become disconnected w/ r.
- Uncertainty + disillusionment followed and civilisation = dominated by materialism, science and technology
- R. symbols that projected archetypes were absent; led to psychoneurosis resulting from a disharmony between consciousness and unconsciousness
- Healing must come from restoring harmony with oneself
- In his 1932 ‘Psychotherapists or the Clergy’, Jung stated that “Among all my patients, there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a r. outlook…none of them has been really healed who did not regain his r. outlook”
22
Q
What does Jung say is different about the Western and Asian mind?
A
- Western: extroverted; in search of outer reality
* Asian: introverted; in search of the source of existence, the psyche
23
Q
How is Buddhist meditation similar to Jung’s theory?
A
- There are four Brahma Viharas (Buddhist virtues; meditative states)
- The practice is similar to the God archetype involving development of positive, wholesome images for reflection
- Idea of the Self harmonising the ‘fuller picture’ of reality = similar to meditation leading to enlightenment
24
Q
Why is organised religion a failure?
A
• Symbols in org. r. = only objects ∴ lost meaning and power to actulaise the G archetype
25
Explain the challenge of the lack of empirical evidence for Jungian concepts.
* No method can fully verify his claims and cannot be demonstrated by empirical evidence
* A resemblance between effects does not establish a similarity in causes
* Palmer: Jung "infers a necessary proposition...which will therefore be applicable no matter what images they may construct"
* He does not provide any criterion to distinguish between archetypes; assumes that humans have an a priori disposition to construct G images
* Hall and Lindzey: he relies on armchair techniques rather than on quantification
* His 1932 study had a small sample size: "over thirty-five" patients
26
Explain the challenge of reductionist views regarding religious belief.
* An exp. stemming from the mind cannot be termed 'religious'; Christ is not just a symbol, he is historic; To C.tians. it is unacceptable that, to Jung, it does not matter that J. was not a person, but rather a psychic exp. to exemplify an archetype
* Fromm: Jung is "seemingly indifferent to the striving for truth that lies at the heart of r. aspirations"
* The term 'religion' becomes so broad in scope that it could be used for any system of ideas
* Ignores the existence of atheists/non-theistic faiths
