Arguably, the most definitive feature of Jung’s metapsychology, and the central point on which his psychology rests, is his theory of archetypes. While recent trends in Jungian perspectives have embraced developmental, relational, social justice, and post-modern paradigms, this more limited way of looking at archetypes can also have the disadvantage of leaving Jungian theory and practice in an insular state with respect to other academic disciplines. This seminar will focus on how a larger concept of the archetype can also inform other disciplines, such as philosophy and bioscience, while simultaneously contributing to a greater understanding of the importance and relevance of the archetypes in the context of psychotherapy.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the various competing theories of the archetype in Jungian psychology.
- Distinguish the method of onto-phenomenology from the biological and human sciences in understanding the essence of archetypes.
- Give an example of how an archetypal perspective can inform clinical work.
