theory: jungian analytical psychology Flashcards
Jungian Analytical Psychology
Psychoanalytic theory originating from the ideas of Carl Jung; focuses on the role of the larger culture, spirituality, dreams, and symbolism in understanding the human psyche. Jung believed that through exploring the unconscious, people’s psychological health could be improved. Thus, the goal of analytic psychology is to help people develop appropriate contact with their unconscious so that they are neither overwhelmed by it nor completely unaware of its forces.
Carl Gustav Jung
Swiss psychiatrist (1875–1961) who was a follower of Freud but eventually broke those ties after disagreements over some of the central tenets of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. Jung went on to develop Jungian Analytic Psychology
individuation
A Jungian concept that describes the process of discovering one’s true, inner self. Jung believed that as individuals move through life they lose touch with important parts of themselves; therefore, he suggested, through listening to the messages of dreams and waking imagination, individuals can re-establish contact with these different parts. Individuation is seen as a life goal and is thought to have a holistic, healing effect on individuals
personal unconscious
Jungian term synonymous with Freud’s unconscious. The personal unconscious is unique to the individual and includes information (e.g., memories, desires, drives) that, at one time, has been conscious but has been forgotten or repressed.
collective unconscious
A Jungian term used to refer to the part of an individual’s unconscious that is shared by the entire human race. The collective unconscious is a product of ancestral experience and contains archetypes.
archetypes
A Jungian concept used to refer to innate, universal templates for human thought and behaviors. Archetypes are patterns of human experience and interpretations that have existed since the origin of humankind. Some of the most prominent archetypes found within the collective unconscious are The Self (the regulating center of the psyche, which contains both conscious and unconscious aspects of a person); The Shadow (characterized as the repressed or unknown aspects of each person and which often contains qualities that the individual possesses but does not identify with); The Anima (made up of female traits that exist in the collective unconscious of men); The Animus (made up of male traits that exist in the collective unconscious of women); and The Persona (the psychological masks that all humans wear and that allow people to change their behavior depending on the social situation).
complex
A Jungian term used to describe amalgamating unconscious feelings, thoughts, and desires. Jung proposed the existence of many kinds of complexes and that each complex revolves around a universal experience, or archetype (e.g., “mother complex”). Complexes symbolize issues that a person needs to resolve.
personality typology
Devised by Carl Jung, consists of two attitudes (introversion and extraversion) and four functions made up of two pairs (sensation/ intuition and thinking/feeling)
dream interpretation
A Jungian technique that involves helping clients understand the personal meaning behind their dreams. Jung believed that dreams reflected both the personal and collective unconscious; therefore, archetypes such as The Animus, The Anima, and The Shadow manifested themselves in dreams as symbols or figures. To assist individuals in determining the reason why certain objects appeared in their dreams, Jung used a technique called explication. Amplification (i.e., comparing a dreamer’s image to stories/ images in myths, literature, and the arts) was used to help the analyst identify central archetypes and possible meanings behind dreams. Jung also used a technique called active imagination that requires clients to actively talk to the characters in their dreams in order to help them connect with their unconscious.
explication
A Jungian technique used to help clients determine the reason why certain objects appeared in their dreams.
amplification
A technique in which Jung compared the dreamer’s image to stories or images in myths, fairy tales, literature, art, and folklore. Amplification helps the analyst identify central archetypes and possible meanings behind dreams.
active imagination
A Jungian technique that requires clients to actively talk to the characters in their dreams.
