Do you know your dominant archetype?
Swiss psychiatristCarl Jung’stheory suggested that these archetypes were archaic forms of innate human knowledge passed down from our ancestors.
In Jungian psychology, these archetypes represent universal patterns and images that are part of the collective unconscious.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
Jung believed that we inherit these archetypes much in the way we inherit instinctive patterns of behavior.
Personal vs.
Collective Unconscious
Jung was originally a follower ofSigmund Freud.
It contained all of the knowledge and experiences that humans share as a species.
The Origins of Jungian Archetypes
Jung believed that archetypes come from the collective unconscious.
He suggested that these models are innate (unlearned), hereditary, and universal.
Archetypes organize how we experience certain things throughout life.
He believed that the human mind retains fundamental, unconscious, biological aspects of our ancestors.
Archetypes symbolize basic humanmotivations, values, and personalities.
The Persona
The persona is how we present ourselves to the world.
The word “persona” is derived from a Latin word that literally means “mask.”
It is not a literal mask, however.
The persona represents all of the different social masks that we wear among various groups and situations.
It acts to shield the ego from negative images.
According to Jung, the persona may appear in dreams and take different forms.
However, becoming too closely identified with this archetype can lead people to lose sight of their true selves.
The Shadow
The shadow is a Jungian archetype that consists of sex and life instincts.
The shadow forms out of our attempts to comply with cultural norms and expectations.
It might include things such as envy, greed,prejudice, hate, and aggression.
Jung suggested that the shadow can appear indreamsor visions and may take a variety of forms.
The masculine anima is related to logical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional stability.
These archetypal images are based upon both what is found in the collective and personal unconscious.
Jung believed that physiological changes as well as social influences contributed to the development of sex roles andgender identities.
Jung suggested the influence of the animus and anima archetypes were also involved in this process.
The anima/animus serves as the primary source of communication with the collective unconscious.
In many cultures, however, men and women are encouraged to adopt traditional and often rigid gender roles.
The syzygy represents completion, unification, and wholeness.
The Self
The self is an archetype that represents the unified consciousness and unconsciousness of an individual.
Jung often represented the self as a circle, square, or mandala.
Jung believed that disharmony between the unconscious and the conscious mind could lead to psychological problems.
Bringing these conflicts into awareness and accommodating them was an important part of the individuation process.
The entire circle makes up the self, whereas the small dot in the middle represents the ego.
Other Jungian Archetypes
Jung suggested that the number of existing archetypes was not static or fixed.
Other criticisms of Jung’s archetypes suggest that they are overly stereotyped,reductionistic, and culturally biased.
It is designed to make an impression on others, but it also serves to conceal your true self.
APA Dictionary of Psychology.Archetype.
APA Dictionary of Psychology.Collective unconscious.
Jung C.The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche.
Adler G, Hull R, eds.
Princeton University Press; 1969.
Stevens A.Living Archetypes: The Selected Works of Anthony Stevens.
Taylor & Francis Group; 2016.
American Psychological Association.APA dictionary of psychology: Anima.
Watts J, Cockcroft K, Duncan N.Developmental Psychology.
