Shadow work. Again, facing up to the parts of ourselves we deem unacceptable is necessary to achieve individuation. Creative play. Jung pulled himself out of his midlife crisis by using creativity. He began, for example, to build model buildings like he did when a child. And he drew mandalas.
Imagination techniques. Jung would encourage clients to relax their minds and let words and images rise, writing down or drawing what came up. You might want to try working with a Jungian therapist. A more modern type of therapy called transpersonal therapy is another option.
It focuses on integrating psychology with spirituality, and is very much about the journey of personal transformation. Use the public comment box below. This method of individuation is thousands of years old. It is part of the enlightenment process. Individuation is a process of psychological integration.
There is a real and seemingly never-ending tension between psychological individuation versus collectivism. As we age we tend to look for a soft place to fall and that seems to lead us away from herd mentality into personal deeper inner thoughts. But before heading off into the desert to contemplate our navel we can promote individuation for ourselves and others while still continuing societal membership.
When an argument is obviously individual vs society we can lean towards the side where the individual retains his or her right to make a choice. Similarly, disturbances of psychic equilibrium caused by the sexual instinct, or feelings of inferiority, can also make these years of early adulthood highly problematic.
What is often the key difficulty in such situations, according to Jung, is the desire to cling to the earlier stage of childhood. Most of his work regarding human development actually focuses on the psychological work to be done during this second half of life. He made a point of emphasizing that the second half of life calls to the fore a different and often compensatory set of values, goals, needs, and priorities from the first half of life.
Compensatory changes also can take place with respect to gender identity, as males develop both physical and psychological traits of the female, while females assume a more masculine inclination and physiognomy.
Then there is the season of life when the sun starts to sink toward the horizon. Jung devoted a lot of attention, especially in his own later years, to an articulation of the problems and opportunities of old age. He again was one of the first psychological thinkers to see the positive dimensions of aging, while still acknowledging the presence of debilitation, loss, and discontent.
He also recognized the importance of old age to culture, noting how in most cultures old people have always been the guardians of the mysteries and the laws. Finally, comes death itself, and Jung addressed himself to the attitudes that an older person can attach to his own demise. He put a lot of emphasis on an individual cultivating an attitude where they actually look ahead to death in a sense, using their religious, spiritual, philosophical, or aesthetic sensibilities to help them cope with this major life experience.
He writes ,. Once we feel more secure as individuals, more complete within ourselves, it is natural also to seek the myriad ways in which we resemble our fellow human beings … the essential human qualities that bind us together in the human tribe.
While the individuation process is different for each person, Jung highlights three archetypes that coincide with three stages of psychological development. The shadow archetype represents all the personal traits we have ignored, denied, or cut off from ourselves. Individuals first get to know and integrate their shadow—all the disown parts of themselves they alienated to create their personality.
The animus is the masculine counterpart in a woman. This archetype connects us to the impersonal collective unconscious. To Jung, they are essential building blocks in the psychic structure of every man and woman. The Self is the archetype of wholeness and self-transcendence.
A Wise Old Man or Woman often represents this universal image. Gandalf, the Wise Old Man, from J. Jung borrowed the concept of the Self from Hindu philosophy. See : The Ultimate List of Archetypes. Jung differentiated various orientations—ways in which an individual can process information, make decisions, and interpret the world.
Jung labeled this group extroverts as they draw energy from others in their environment. But a smaller percentage of individuals emphasize the inner world, on their subjective responses to outside events. Jung observed that some people favor thoughts to pass judgment while others follow their feelings. Some individuals experience the world through their senses while others intuit intentions, potentials, and hidden relationships. Thinking types approach life with little regard for their emotions.
They arrange things with logic and order. Feeling types understand what something is worth. They appreciate the infinite gradations of value and meaning. Sensing types most accurately interpret information through their five senses. They are the ultimate realists, accepting the world as it is.
Jung further portrays the ego as the center of consciousness. It is an important aspect of individual personality. According to Jung, the ego usually stems from the unconscious Urban, Consequently, it is associated with various interactions with the unconscious. The memories and experiences are vital in the individuation and self-realization processes. However, it is important to note that the ego lacks unconscious elements. Personal experiences are the sole determinants of conscious experiences.
In the individuation process, the ego is influenced by the self Redfearn, However, this influence is not apparent to individuals. For example, it is not easy to point out what is generally regarded as consciousness.
Therefore, the self is limited in a way. It tends to come out openly through the individuation process. The concepts and ideas of Jung have been criticized due to their lack of coherence.
Also, the concepts and ideas lack structured thought systems. For example, Jung fails to present formal, logical, and systemic arguments. Instead, most of his ideas are unclear Kotsch, Such a structuring creates room for the addition of new information into his theoretical frameworks. He admits lack of knowledge in some of the issues he analyzed. As a result, he leaves the door open for further confirmation of his theories.
For example, he analyses human life from the perspective of small theoretical constructs. In spite of these criticisms, Jung is recognized as a pioneer and an authority in theoretical psychology. His concepts remain popular within contemporary academic circles. There are several reasons why this is the case. One of them is the fact that these theories reflect postmodern opinions on society today Hauke, Kotsch argues that Jung is not an objectivist. To this end, he is compared to the likes of William James in psychological traditions.
The concept can be summed up as the pattern characterizing human growth. It uses analogies of growing trees and germinating seeds. Each can achieve self-realization through the individuation process. The capacity of an individual to achieve individuation is unique and determines the realization of their personality. Ultimately, individuation results in a self-realized individual.
Such an individual enjoys their optimum self-potential. A growing seed is subjected to various factors in the germination process. It follows a distinct path from germination to maturation. Similarly, an individual is subjected to a life that is dynamic, challenging, and unpredictable. It also influences archetypes and the self, which are important elements of the individuation process. Fordham, F. Some views on individuation.
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