senex

An archetypal rather than a developmental concept (Hillman,
1979). Latin for ‘old man’, but-not to be confused with the ‘wise old
man’ (see MANA PERSONALITIES). Used in analytical psychology to
refer to a personification of certain psychological features usually
attributed to the aged, though even babies may display senex features
– balance, generosity towards others, wisdom, far-sightedness. See
ARCHETYPE; DEVELOPMENT; INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.
Senex is often mentioned in contradistinction to the PVER AETERNVS.
Puer pathology can be described as excessively daring, over-optimistic,
given to flights of imagination and idealism, and excessively
spiritualised. Senex pathology may be characterised as excessively
conservative, authoritarian, over-grounded, melancholic and lacking
in imagination.
See OPPOSITES.