jungian

Jungian refers to the ideas, theories, and practices associated with the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung and his school of depth psychology, also called analytical psychology. Developed in the early to mid-20th century, Jungian psychology grew from and differentiated itself from Freudian psychoanalysis by emphasizing the unconscious, symbolism, and the spiritual dimension of human experience.

A central concept is the structure of the psyche, comprising the ego, the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. The latter is said to contain archetypes—universal, inherited symbolic patterns such as the persona, the shadow, the anima and animus, and the self—that organize experiences and myths across cultures. The process of individuation aims at integrating these elements into a coherent whole, often through engagement with dreams, symbols, and life experiences.

Jung also proposed psychological types, notably the attitudes of introversion and extraversion and the four functions of thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. This typology influenced later personality assessments, notably the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, though Jungian theory regards type as a dynamic orientation rather than a fixed label.

Clinical practice in Jungian analysis emphasizes dream interpretation, active imagination, and the amplification of symbols through myth, art, and culture. Therapy seeks to foster individuation and a dialogue between conscious attitudes and the powerful, symbolic contents of the unconscious.

Beyond therapy, Jungian ideas have influenced literature, religious studies, and the study of symbolism, dreams, and comparative mythologies. Notable works include The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, Psychological Types, and Man and His Symbols. Critics note the lack of robust empirical support and caution against overextension into spirituality or popular culture.