Anyone for Jung?

[ElderToadstool]

In about the past year or so I've been reading a good amount by and about Swiss psychologist C.G. Jung, whose primary contribution to psychology was his theory of the collective unconscious, the archetypes that comprise it, and the way it expresses itself it man. He believed that each man and woman inherited certain methods of thinking and action, and that many of these so-called structures, for whatever reason, have not been integrated into consciousness. His psychology, therefore, is an attempt to make these systems conscious and to integrate them into the life of the patient. It was also his contention that the collective unconscious expresses itself through myth, religion, art, and dreams, and he made liberal use of these in his psychotherapy.


Jung is also responsible for the introvert/extravert, thinking/feeling, and sense/intuition dichotomies that underlie the basic structure of the MBTI.

I was was wondering if any one here has any thoughts or opinions concerning Jungian psychology. While I wouldn't contend that it qualifies as a science I find it a useful tool for understanding the purpose of myth and religion as well as a useful guide to orienting one's self in the universe.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I'm not presently in the mood for a long answer, but, I've read quite a bit of Jung's works (and derivative works) and, yes, I do think he's on to something.

Dave

 

[SpaceYeti]

"Is", or "was?

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I haven't read any of his works, but I have read Keirsey's Please Understand Me I and II. I just cannot get enough of this typology stuff. There's lots of potential for breakthroughs in science, especially neuroscience and genetics. For the layman though, I think we really don't need to go any farther than the typology systems already available. To do so would be splitting hairs and we should instead be out applying the knowledge.

 

[snafupants]

ann faraday wrote a book in the seventies called dream power which included dream interpretations based on jung, pearls, freud, et al. shes a pretty progressive thinker and is completely revealing while working the theories into her own life (recounted therapy sessions); honesty is sometimes anathema in writing, so that was refreshing with her. long story short: worthwhile book to check out.

elder - you were the one who had that thread on the dark tower, right? what did you think of the ending? which book of the seven was your personal favorite?

 

[Vrecknidj]

"Is", or "was?

Yes.

 

[Vrecknidj]

As far as derivative authors, I recommend He and She by Robert Johnson, Ego and Archetype by E. Edinger, and anything by Joseph Campbell. As far as other works in psychology, not modeled on Jung, I HIGHLY recommend all of Alice Miller's work.

Dave

 

[BigApplePi]

I'm modestly aware of Jung and the things you mention. I don't see why all of those are not good concepts. Jung came up with those things are shared by us all -- or at least come out of many of us when we look for them. This is in contrast to Freud whom I think of as more focused on individual history.

"Collective unconscious" is a tough concept to handle if we have trouble bringing it to consciousness. Think of picking up water with our fingers. We know it's there, but it slips through.

Think also of the MBTI which we inherited from him. Psychological types exist but get "fuzzy" when we try to define them. It's hard to define them with boundary conditions. It's like they, for example introversion, have a central existence but get more and more vague as we more outward.

The archetypes he mentions -- makes me wonder if he missed any. I haven't thought about this.

Am I saying something or is this nonsensical?

 

[ElderToadstool]

Yea I did post the thread on the Dark Tower. I thought the ending was a bit cliche, but after thinking about it I think it's perfectly in tune with the series as a whole. As for the best book in the series I'd have to go with either The Wastelands or The Wolves of the Calla.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who posts in forums based on his theories that thought he wasn't onto anything at all...