NonJungian

NonJungian is an informal label used in psychology and related disciplines to describe theories, practices, or interpretations that do not adopt Carl Jung's analytical psychology or its central concepts such as the collective unconscious, archetypes, or the process of individuation. The term is not a formal field or school of thought, but a convenient way to distinguish approaches that diverge from Jungian assumptions in discussion, critique, or comparison.

Scope of use includes areas where theories differ from Jungian framework. In psychotherapy and personality theory, nonJungian traditions often encompass Freudian and Neo-Freudian psychoanalysis; behaviorism and cognitivism; humanistic and existential psychology; and various biological or developmental frameworks. In dream interpretation and symbolism, nonJungian readings may rely on psychoanalytic dream theory, cognitive processing models, or neurobiological data rather than Jung's archetypal symbolism.

Relation to Jung: the label implies a methodological boundary rather than a comprehensive taxonomy. Some practitioners identify as nonJungian to signal nonalignment with Jung's theories, while others incorporate elements from multiple traditions, including Jung, in integrative approaches. The term can appear in scholarly debates about the validity, scope, or applicability of Jungian concepts in different cultures or clinical settings.

See also: Analytical psychology; Jungian psychology; Psychoanalysis; Cognitive psychology.