Carl Jung - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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CARL JUNG Bio Overview Carl Gustav Jung (1875 1961) is one of the most influential of all psychologists. There are many concepts in Jungian however, as Jung himself emphasises, these concepts are closely intertwined with one another and manifest within the mind in varying degrees and balances. He fo...

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Overview

CARL JUNG – Bio

There are many concepts in Jungian psychology; however, as Jung himself emphasises, these concepts are closely intertwined with one another and manifest within the mind in varying degrees and balances.

– Carl Gustav Jung (1875 – 1961) is one of the most influential of all psychologists. – He founded what is known as analytical psychology. – He was born in Switzerland to a Reform (Calvinist) Pastor.

Jung derived these concepts from observations in his patients; and from previous thinkers such as Freud, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer; and reflections on the workings of his own mind.

Eight of his uncles were parsons.



These are the important concepts: – His mother suffered from a nervous disorder which had her hospitalised for several months.

Psyche, Ego, Consciousness, Personal Unconscious, Collective Unconscious;

– Jung began studying medicine at Basel University, but then changed to psychiatry at the age of 24.

The 4 Mental Functions: Thinking, Feeling, Sensing, Intuiting The 2 Attitudes: Extraversion, Introversion; (combinations of mental functions and attitudes = 8 types)

– Jung was a keen reader of Freud, and sent Freud a copy of his first book in 1907.

Individuation; Complexes;

Freud then invited Jung to Vienna in the



same year, where they famously talked continuously

Archetypes: especially the Self, The Anima & Animus, the Persona, the Shadow; (and God Archetype)

for 13 hours when they first met! Thus began a professional and personal



Canalization of Psychical Energy; Symbolism and Dreams

relationship that was to last 6 years. Jung’s thought, however, digressed from



Psyche

Freud’s as time passed, and with the publication of Jung’s book, ‘Symbols of Transformation’, their

– The whole personality, embracing all thought, feeling and behaviour.

friendship was lost.

–

Jung did not believe that so many mental

 Freud did.

– The psyche includes everything mental, whether we are aware of them or not.

– Jung is a controversial figure, but has had much influence on culture as well as on the science of evolutionary psychology and even on religion itself. 

Consciousness – Awareness of something, be it an external object or an aspect of your inner self. – (not to be confused with conscience: inner moral judge/ment) – What enters consciousness is determined by the ego: Ego –

Organises/manages the conscious mind.

– It is composed of perceptions (of outside world), memories, thoughts and feelings. – It selects which of the above enters consciousness (there is a multitude in each component) – Selection is based on which mental function(s) (see below) a person is dominated by, as well as which Archetype(s) (see below) a person is dominated by. – Intense experiences (like a car crash) ‘gate crash’ consciousness though, without recourse to the ego. – A highly-individuated (see below) person’s ego will allow more things to enter consciousness.

Thus the word, ‘psychology’.

– The psyche may be more than simply the brain. Jung leaves this possibility open, and thus the possibility of life after death.

disturbances were derived from sexual complexes, as

– The Psyche can be divided, however, into 3 main parts: Consciousness, Personal Unconscious, Collective Unconscious.

Freud calls this the id.

Personal Unconscious –

Commonly known as the subconscious.

– It is both the memory bank of experiences not gained entry into consciousness by the ego (e.g. friends’ names), and repressed (‘kept down’) experiences (e.g. distressing thoughts, stresses, unsolved problems).

– Experiences in the personal unconscious may appear in dreams.

French academic who proposed the theory of evolution before Darwin! (Darwin’s ‘Origin of

Thus, Jung considered dream analysis to



Species’ published 1859.)

be important in understanding a person’s mental

Lamarkism is tied to his notion

o problems (more on this later).

of the inheritance of acquired characteristics (soft – A cluster of components in the personal unconsciousness Jung calls a complex (see below).

This is opposed to ‘hard

but they at least believed they did often – thus the

inheritance’ which states that such acquired

Archetypes.

characteristics cannot be passed on, but only the

This is the concept that made Jung renown,

– People seem to have an innate identification with certain objects over others. For example, spiders or snakes (thus arachnophobia or ophidiophobia), or heroes (e.g. Batman or Leonidas)

potentialities for those characteristics through mutation and natural selection.

It constitutes the beginning of

Jung himself adopted Lamarckism, but the



collective unconscious can still be explained in hard – Throughout our evolutionary past, including the time at which we were animals, a number of common images and activities presented themselves to us. In time, the ability to recognise and identify with these images and activities became ingrained within successive generations of minds.

– It is important to understand that the Archetypes are not actual images. (with which we are born).

inheritance ways. Though Lamarckism is still

o

possibly true, despite its unpopularity today. The modern field of ‘Epigenetics’ is said by some to be



Lamarckian in character.

I.e. evolution provides the blueprint of the

Archetypes

psyche just as it provides the blueprints of the body. 

–

E.g. We inherit predispositions to fear experienced these fears for countless generations. The collective unconscious is a an unpopular type of evolutionary thought: Lamarkism.

o



The Persona, the Anima or Animus, The Self, the Shadow (see below).

They are like potential images, very much like Plato’s Forms. (of course Jung did not believe in Plato’s theory of Forms though.) – They are also predispositions to behaviour, potential behaviour patterns.

– There are innumerable Archetypes, but there are 4 main ones:

controversial notion because it seems to depend on

That is, They are forms potentially ‘filled in’ by real experience in this life.

– They are the ‘primordial images’ and predispositions acquired through our ancestors.

snakes and the dark because our primitive ancestors 

The components of the Collective Unconscious.

They are rather, ‘virtual’ or ‘primordial’ images. Jung writes they are ‘forms without content.’

 

Of course, our ancestors probably never really experienced, say magic or god;

o

evolutionary psychology.

your idols, etc.) o

offspring.

– The ‘primordial images’ (Archetypes) and predispositions we are born with due to evolution.

(think of examples of these in folklore, literature, film, your dreams, your objects of thought:

I.e. that acquired (learnt)

o

Collective Unconscious





inheritance). behaviour, stature and thought is passed on to

–

– Other Archetypes include: the hero, power, birth, rebirth, death, magic, the child, the trickster, god, the demon, the wise old man, the earth mother, the giant; trees, the sun, the moon, rivers, wind, fire, animals (wolves, eagles, owls); rings, weapons (axe, hammer, sword), etc.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) was a





For example, they are very much like what Steven Pinker calls, ‘the language instinct’; or Noam Chomsky’s ‘universal grammar’: the innate (born-

language generally. Obviously an evolved potentiality.

– Jung’s theory of complexes has entered modern parlance (e.g. ‘inferiority-complex’, ‘Napoleoncomplex’)

– As different human races have slightly different evolutionary pasts, slightly different Archetypes pertain to different races Jung writes.

– A complex can be negative or positive (e.g. a mother-complex (“mummy’s boy”) and a beauty complex (for an artist)).

– Along with the 4 main Archetypes (see below), people often identify with one or more Archetypes; an identification which influences their personality.

– An Archetype is the nucleus of a complex, acting as a magnet attracting relevant experiences (through the ego) to form the complex.

with) potential to quickly learn grammar and



For example, a person who identifies with



does not choose an Archetype, rather ‘one’ has it

– The process of Self-consciousness, knowing oneself as completely as possible, making conscious the unconscious, thereby harmonising all the parts that might otherwise remain repressed and underdeveloped.

When the complex has sufficient mass consciousness as a whole.

perspectives, looking for ways to prove his courage. Note that ‘one’

Individuation

(sufficient experiences), it penetrates into

the Hero Archetype sees the world in heroic o

– As complexes are often destructive to one’s self, therapy may be advised. Jungian therapy is the process whereby one becomes conscious of the unconscious (e.g. the Archetypes causing complexes) and tries to harmonise the psyche. This therapy is known as individuation: becoming a ‘well-rounded’ individual.

 o

For example, mother complex:

– This can be achieved through therapy but also through self-reflection through the years and through symbolism, including religious symbolism (see below).

A man dominated by a strong

innately and relates to the world accordingly from

mother complex will be extremely sensitive to

this perspective.

everything his mother says and feels, and he will always be thinking of her. He will try to introduce his

– Archetypes can combine. For example, a ruthless leader type of person (e.g. Stalin, Mao) may have the combination of the Hero and Demon Archetypes.

mother, or something associated with her, into every

The Persona (Archetype)

conversation whether it be pertinent or not. He will

– The persona is the mask someone wears, the outward appearance and behaviour s/he presents to society.

favour films, books and events in which mothers play a prominent role. He will imitate his mother’s

– Archetypes also act as the nucleus of a complex (see below).

behaviour and tastes and prefers older women to

– As with all Archetypes, the persona is necessary for survival (otherwise the archetypes would not have evolved).

women of his own age. Complexes

 o

God complex: may first see the world in terms of good and evil,

– Like separate little personalities in the psyche: they have autonomy (independence) and drive (a will).

himself) in terms of religious morality. Such a person

righteousness and sin, and may judge others (and may become a priest, nun or monk. If the complex becomes very strong, he may sacrifice everything for



E.g. a mother-complex, god-complex.

– The persona affects personal characteristics such as grooming, clothing, manners, the car one drives, the people with whom one associates, sometimes even accent (“poshing it up”, or sounding regional to ‘get on’).

A person with a god complex

– A cluster of components in the personal unconscious.

the complex including his life (e.g. a suicide bomber or a end-of-world cultist). If the complex becomes too strong, he may favour himself a prophet or even God Himself, and end up in the mental institute.



I.e. the persona has social benefits. – Sometimes, however, the persona can become harmful. If a person becomes too preoccupied with the role he is playing (his persona), the other sides of his personality will be shoved aside into the personal

unconscious where they will lie underdeveloped and thus cause inner tension.

fall into this category – in extreme cases a sex

Christianity is a religion that tries to



operation may occur.

suppress violence, judging it ‘sinful’. This is why Jung writes that, “that is no doubt the reason why no

– (Note that Jung’s theory on this archetype relies on the belief that masculine and feminine traits are biologically male and female, respectively; rather than being socially-constructed concepts as some argue.)

The Anima or Animus (Archetypes) – The anima is the feminine side in males; the animus is the masculine side in females. – Man has developed his anima through continuous exposure to women over the generations; and woman, men, Jung argues.

– If a man has a strong anima, or a woman a strong animus archetype, and represses it because society judges femininity in men (or vice versa), s/he may become outwardly homophobic as s/he is really judging the aspect of his own personality he hates when judging another. – In Western society, femininity in men and masculinity is often disparaged (“sissies”, “tomboys”), therefore the persona can often take over and stifle the anima or animus.

blood as Christianity, and why the world has never seen a bloodier war than the war of the Christian nations” (vol. 10, p22). link between the repressive nature of strands of Islam

The Shadow (Archetype)

and the violence issued therefrom (e.g. sexually

– The shadow contains more of man’s basic violent animal nature than any other. – The persona often suppresses the shadow in western civilisation.

frustrated suicide bombers). films, video games, heavy metal,, etc actually make people less violent as they act as conduits releasing



A person who completely suppresses his shadow will lose his/her power for spontaneity,

people’s shadow.

creativity, strong emotions and deep insights. 

archetype, in which case the person over-reacts (as

media was completely banned, people’s shadows

Jung writes that a shadowless life tends to

would have no outlet and thus people would perhaps

become shallow and spiritless.

become more violent to one another.

– When the shadow is accepted and thus becomes conscious, a person appears more energetic and creative and so appears a little ‘mad’ as their persona will not dominate their composure.

Psycho’, the central character desperately wants to ‘fit in’ and as a result represses his shadow to such an extent that he has to go out and torture and kill people.



As a popular adage goes, “there’s a thin – The German philosopher Nietzsche (1844-1900) argued (in Beyond Good & Evil) that some high arts (music, poetry, theatre, especially tragedy) expressed the inherent cruelty of the human animal. For Nietzsche, the highest men actually valued pain and battle, identifying with the heroes in tragedy (originally Dionysus).

– However, there are also dark, “evil”, cruel elements to the shadow (as there are in the animal kingdom). – Jung writes that “the animal in us becomes more beastlike” when repressed.

more feminine than masculine, or vice versa. Jung writes that effeminate homosexuals and transvestites

In the book and film, ‘American

o

archetypes suppressed in the unconscious remain underdeveloped), in which case a male can become

In a society where violence in

o

A possible consequence of this, Jung writes, is that it may trigger off a rebellion of this

We can also consider whether violent



line between madness and genius”. 

Perhaps today we can observe a similar



– If the personality is to be well-adjusted and harmoniously balanced, the feminine side of a man’s personality must be allowed to express itself in consciousness and behaviour; and vice versa in women. – The anima or animus is also responsible for deciding which potential partner one finds attractive, and this is often unconscious as the anima/animus is often unconscious.

religion is so defiled with the spilling of innocent



Nietzsche also wrote that the warlike in man must be let out in order to retain a non-resentful

mind (Genealogy of Morality, Treatise 1), in much the

self more readily than western man does, Jung

wholeness, expresses on the other side the idea of

same way as Jung suggests.

argues.

god.”

 The Self (Archetype) – The self is the archetype of order, organisation, and unification.

supernatural phenomenon. o

I.e. Jung does not find it

experience of god or of the unconscious and self – it has the same effect of self-realisation.  – As mentioned, the Self archetype aids individuation by generating images of wholeness.

o

The self archetype therefore latches on to An example Jung gives is the

out Jesus and the Buddha as examples of people who 



In Hinduism and Buddhism, a mandala acts as an aid in meditation or trance so that the

Usually the self archetype does not

person experiences a feeling of complete unity.

become evident until middle age. 

The self would recognise a mandala as a

– By focussing on the self, individuation can then take place. The self archetype aids individuation by generating images of wholeness.

representation of the unconscious and conscious

– Knowledge of the self is accessible through the study of one’s dreams.

– Another example of a symbol expressing the self, or wholeness, was the religious images of God.

– More importantly, through true religious experience one can understand and realise the self.

mind, and their unity.



In fact, the images created by (and recognised by) the God archetype are the same as



those images created by the self archetype:

In eastern religions the ritualistic practices for achieving selfhood, such as the meditation aspects of yoga, enable eastern man to perceive the

An atheists may always have inner turmoil and in o

Although, an atheist may find other routes to individuation. Buddhism is often called a practice rather than a religion.

mandala, or balancing circles. E.g.:

In fact, most people never achieve it. Jung does single have.

If one rejects religion and its symbolism, one thereby rejects a substantial tool in individuation. conflict with himself and thus others.



symbols representing such wholeness. This is not easy nor does it happen quickly.

– Hence, religion does have an important role to play in helping people become self-conscious...