Depth Psychology: Jung

[...Depth Psychology continued...]

Remember, Freud in particular saw only ill patients, with “fat and juicy” neuroses.

Transference—patient see therapist as all-knowing, wise, father-figure etc. Similar to the defense of identification (think teens with sports heroes), but it’s not a defense mechanism, the word is just a phenomenon in the therapy process. It’s important because in the organizational setting, which is based on rank/hierarchy, underling may transfer childhood needs. Mentor may also transfer parental feelings (sort of counter-transference).

Jung’s additional level of consciousness:
-awareness
-preconscious
-personal unconscious
-collective unconscious (Jung’s idea)

Collective unconscious composed of archetypal “memories.”

Jung was impressed by shamans, who would make the distinction between “little dreams” and “big dreams” (which were composed of/included big, archetypal symbols). He felt those came from collective unconsciousness. Myth important to understanding the collective unconscious.

Handout: Jung’s diagram of the psyche.

The shadow: all the things we’re ashamed of about ourselves. Often suppressed, therefore often revealed in dreams.

Jung’s goal of individuation: to move more of the personal unconscious into the conscious. Also, integration of the anima/animus, because the pathway to the collective unconscious is our opposite-sex figure (clearer from diagram).

Alex’s book report: Jung’s autobiography
Schott’s additional notes: Jung had a psychotic episode in 1912. Possibly some rebellion against dogma/organized religion because of his father’s church affiliation.