‘I Feel, Therefore I Am’: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Emotions and their Impact – International Conference

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the C.G. Jung Institute Zurich, Kusnacht, we are pleased to announce an international, interdisciplinary three-day conference on the crucial topic of emotions and its relevance for analytical psychology.
C.G. Jung’s complex theory is based on the study of emotions and their embodied symptoms. Following his analysis of complexes through the association experiment in the early 20th century, emotions were viewed as the main indicators for his understanding of the individual psychodynamics. The unfolding of emotions highlights the singularity of the person, the complexity of coping mechanisms and relational patterns. Emotions are the driving forces behind our social and psychic life. They allow us to connect with ourselves, the other, and with nature. From the viewpoint of analytical psychology, beyond their importance for the individual life, emotions help us to perceive and understand collective and archetypal dynamics in society.

Contemporary psychology is experiencing a resurge of interest into the role of emotion, conscious and unconscious, and the body in various aspects of cognition, consciousness, and psychic life. An ongoing trend in neuroscientific and psychological studies of embodied emotion emphasizes interdisciplinary perspectives and proposes the indivisibility of body and mind. In psychotherapy research and practice: attention to the interplay of emotions, bodily perceptions, and consciousness is becoming predominant.

What can analytical psychology contribute to the understanding of emotions, and what can analytical psychology learn from contemporary research on the topic? We invite you to take part in this dialogue about the legacy of Jung and contemporary research. Our aim is to foster an open dialogue between related fields in the spirit of Jung, providing space for different methodologies and perspectives.

Click on "VISIT OFFICIAL EVENT SITE" to see the Keynote Addresses and full programme schedule

Introduction to Dream Matrix / Dream Sharing

By Art Funkhouser & Dominique Lepori, from Friday to Sunday, 7:30 to 8:30 am.

Dream groups and other forms of open dream discussion are an increasingly important way of creating and sustaining community. This has been practiced among many indigenous peoples for centuries while those who have not worked with dreams are only now beginning to tap into the power that is set free when this level of openness is achieved. The focus is not on therapy (although it can be quite therapeutic) but rather on creating a safe place in which the unconscious can reveal what it wants to say, and a dialogue can ensue. During the three days of this conference, there will not be time for the full power of this way of meeting and sharing to be fully realized but participants will, at least, acquire a feeling for it.