Lecture 5 - Jung Theory of Personality 3
Lecture 5 - Jung Theory of Personality 3
Lecture 5 - Jung Theory of Personality 3
THEORIES
OF
PERSONALITY
Jung’s theory divided the human mind into three parts:
• The Ego
• The Personal Unconscious
• The Collective Unconscious
Ego: Jung defines this as the unconscious mind
The Personal Unconscious: Anything that is not presently conscious, but can be. It
includes both memories that are easily brought to mind and those that have been
repressed for some reason.
The Collective Unconscious: This refers to our “Psychic Inheritance”. The reservoir of our
experiences as a species, a kind of knowledge we are all born with (the collective
memories of the entire human race). We are not directly conscious of it but it influences all
our experiences and behaviours. According to Jung, this is who so many cultures have the
same symbols recurring in their myths, religion, art, and dreams. The common symbols are
referred to as archetypes.
Archetypes
The content of the collective unconscious are called "Archetypes" •
Jung believed humans are not born "clean slates"which mean that
we came into this world with certain pre-dispositions that cause
behaviour. These behaviours were driven by archetypes or
archetypal behaviour.
The self
It represents the unified consciousness and unconsciousness of an
individual. It is the central organizing principle of the psyche.
Examples: religious symbols like the mandala, or the image of a wise old
person.
The Shadow:
The shadow represents the darker, unconscious aspects of the
personality that the individual does not acknowledge or integrate into
their conscious self. It often appears in dreams and fantasies.
Examples: the femme fatale archetype in literature, or the wise sage figure.
The Hero:
The hero represents the individual's journey to overcome obstacles, both
external and internal, and achieve self-realization or fulfillment. Heroes
often embark on quests or face challenges to prove their worth.
Integration:
Recognizing and reconciling the opposing forces within the psyche, such as the persona and the
shadow.
Achieving balance and harmony between conscious and unconscious elements.
Facilitates the individuation process and promotes psychological wholeness.
Self-realization:
Attaining a deep sense of purpose, meaning, and authenticity.
Involves embracing one's inner potential and living in accordance with one's true nature.
Leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life aligned with one's inner values and aspirations.
Introversion Extroversion
Orientation towards the internal world: Introverts tend to Orientation towards the external world: Extraverts tend to
direct their energy and attention inward, towards their own focus their energy and attention outward, towards the
thoughts, feelings, and inner experiences. They often have a external environment. They are often more interested in
rich inner world and may spend more time reflecting and people, objects, events, and experiences outside of
introspecting.
themselves.
Recharging through solitude: Introverts typically feel drained
Gaining energy from external stimuli: Extraverts typically
by excessive social interaction and external stimulation. They
feel energized and invigorated by social interactions, new
need time alone to recharge their energy and process their
experiences, and external stimulation. They may seek out
thoughts and emotions.
social gatherings, parties, and group activities to recharge.
Preference for depth and reflection: Introverts are often
described as reflective, introspective, and deep thinkers. They
Preference for action and engagement: Extraverts are often
may prefer solitary activities such as reading, writing, or described as outgoing, sociable, and action-oriented. They
contemplation. enjoy interacting with others, participating in group
Internal dialogue and reflection: Introverts may engage in discussions, and taking an active role in their environment.
extensive internal dialogue and reflection before making Thinking out loud: Extraverts may be more likely to express
decisions or taking action. They may prefer to process their thoughts, feelings, and ideas verbally and engage in
information internally before sharing it with others. external dialogue to process information and make
decisions.
Practical Applications
Therapy: Jungian therapy focuses on exploring the unconscious mind,
working with dreams, and uncovering the symbolic meaning behind
psychological issues.
Personality assessment: Jung's theories have influenced personality
assessment tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI),
which is based on Jung's ideas about personality types.
Creativity and symbolism: Jung's concepts of archetypes and the
collective unconscious have inspired artists, writers, and filmmakers to
explore universal themes and symbols in their work.