Defining ArchetypesDefining Archetypes

Carl Jung’s concept of Carl Jung’s concept of Conscious vs. UnconsciousConscious vs. Unconscious

Defining them:Defining them:

The contents of the collective The contents of the collective unconsciousunconscious

Jung also called them dominants, Jung also called them dominants, imagos, mythological or primordial imagos, mythological or primordial imagesimages

An archetype is an unlearned An archetype is an unlearned tendency to experience things in a tendency to experience things in a certain way certain way

A few universal examples:A few universal examples:

AnimusAnimus- male aspect “where’s other - male aspect “where’s other half?”half?”

AnimaAnima- female aspect “where’s other…?”- female aspect “where’s other…?”ShadowShadow- primal, instinctive- primal, instinctivePersonaPersona- public image- public imageFather, mother, family, child, hero, wise Father, mother, family, child, hero, wise

old man, maiden, trickster, old man, maiden, trickster, hermaphrodite, animal, original man, hermaphrodite, animal, original man, GodGod

What is an archetype?What is an archetype?

A hereditary given that shapes and A hereditary given that shapes and transforms individual conscious. A transforms individual conscious. A given that is defined especially by a given that is defined especially by a tendency rather than by specific tendency rather than by specific contents, inherited images etc; a contents, inherited images etc; a matrix that influences human matrix that influences human behavior both on the level of ideas behavior both on the level of ideas and on the moral, ethical level, of and on the moral, ethical level, of conduct in general. conduct in general.

What is an archetype?What is an archetype?

Jung talks about archetype (named Jung talks about archetype (named at first at first primordial imageprimordial image) as ) as biologists' biologists' patternspatterns of behaviorof behavior. . So, archetypes are innate tendencies So, archetypes are innate tendencies that mold the human conduct.that mold the human conduct.

The Concept:The Concept:

"The concept of archetype,” states "The concept of archetype,” states Jung, “arises from the repeated Jung, “arises from the repeated observation that sometimes myths and observation that sometimes myths and tales from universal literature comprise tales from universal literature comprise well-defined themes which reappear well-defined themes which reappear everywhere and every time. We find the everywhere and every time. We find the same themes in fantasies, dreams, same themes in fantasies, dreams, delirious ideas and illusions of delirious ideas and illusions of individuals that live in our present individuals that live in our present days". days".

The Concept:The Concept:

These thematic images are These thematic images are representations of archetypes, they have representations of archetypes, they have archetypes as roots. They impress, archetypes as roots. They impress, influence and fascinate us.influence and fascinate us.

Archetypes correspond to instincts that, as Archetypes correspond to instincts that, as well, cannot be recognized as such unless well, cannot be recognized as such unless they become manifest. they become manifest.

Finally, the archetype is Finally, the archetype is psychoid, psychoid, that is that is psychic-like but not immediately psychic-like but not immediately accessible to the mind.accessible to the mind.