Neo-analytic Theories and Individual Psychology

Active Imagination

A form of reflection through which people activate and follow their imaginative reveries in a purposive way.

Anima

A feminine archetypal image that serves as a bridge to the unconscious in both men and women, but is most often expressed as the feminine part of a man.

Animus

A masculine archetypal image that serves as a bridge to the unconscious in both men and women, but is most often expressed as the masculine part of a woman.

Archetype

An innate universal pattern or organizing principle similar to an instinct. It has no specific form but can be seen through archetypal images observable in the common motifs present in myths, fairy tales, legends, and dreams across cultures and times. Examples include the Earth Mother, the Wise Old Man, the Hero’s Quest, the Shadow, and the Trickster.

Collective Unconscious

The part of the unconscious that is universal in humans, in contrast to the personal unconscious belonging to individual experience. The contents of the collective unconscious come into consciousness through archetypal images or basic motifs common to all people.

Complex

An energy-filled cluster of emotions and ideas circling a specific subject. A complex has an archetypal core but expresses aspects of the personal unconscious. Jung’s discovery and explanation of the complex lent validity to Freud’s belief in the personal unconscious.

Countertransference

The activation of unconscious wishes and fantasies on the part of the therapist toward the patient. It can either be elicited by and indicative of the patient’s projections or come from the therapist’s tendency to respond to patients as though they were significant others in the life, history, or fantasy of the therapist.

Individuation

The process by which an individual becomes an indivisible and integrated whole person responsibly embodying his or her individual strengths and limitations.

Persona

A mask or way of appearing that is appropriate to a specific role or social setting. It both shields an individual and reveals suitable aspects of the personality, but is often at variance with the personality as a whole.

Personal Unconscious

An individual unconscious layer of the personality containing undeveloped parts of the personality, repressed ideas, experiences, emotions, and subliminal perceptions.

Projection

Attributing to others unacceptable personal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Self-Actualization

A basic human drive toward growth, completeness, and fulfillment.

Shadow

Unconscious, unaccepted, or unrecognized parts of the personality that are most often, but not always, negative.

Transference

The therapy situation in which the patient responds to the therapist as though he or she were a significant figure in the patient’s past, usually a parent.

Unconscious

A division of the psyche; the repository of psychological material of which the individual is unaware.