The mood in the world has darkened significantly this week. The result Presidential election in the USA seems to be an indication that anxiety and suspicion of the other are now the guiding instincts of the global political order. While the President-elect has promised to end wars and scale back American military support for many allies, this is not motivated by a new attitude of openness and cooperation, but rather a tighter focus on American self-interest, a disengagement from the responsibility to others. The United States “the shining city” the torch bearer of democracy also casts a long shadow.
The concept of cultural complexes is a powerful tool to understand the shadow a country casts. The cultural complex, first proposed by Joseph Henderson, is an extension of Jung’s theory of personal complexes into the realm of group psychology. Thomas Singer and Samuel Kimbles further developed the concept, highlighting its role in understanding group conflicts. Cultural complexes are emotionally charged groups of ideas and images that cluster around an archetypal core, like personal complexes but operating on a group level.
Cultural complexes often arise from shared historical experiences and traumas, perpetuating specific perspectives and behaviours across generations within national or ethnic groups. They tend to be resistant to consciousness, and can manifest in powerful, often unconscious ways in both groups and individuals. Singer has edited a series of books which applies the concept to different geographic regions around the world.
In Cultural Complexes and the Soul of America Singer and contributors identify four key cultural complexes operating in the USA. The Purity Complex, stemming from a desire for absolute certainty, can fuel political polarisation, intolerance of ambiguity, and the projection of “good” and “evil” onto different groups. The Dominion Complex manifests in America’s historical expansionism, military interventions, and pursuit of economic dominance, reflecting a deep-seated desire for control over nature, other nations, and even fellow Americans.
Additionally, the legacy of slavery and ongoing racial injustices have created a Racial Complex, deeply impacting individual and collective experiences and shaping conflicts around issues like crime and punishment, voting rights, and social justice. The Individualism vs. Communalism Complex, reflecting the ongoing tension between personal freedom and collective responsibility that shapes debates around healthcare, gun control, and the role of government. Singer and the contributor to the volume were indeed prescient because it is possible to see how these complexes were at play in the recent election.
Recommended Resources
As you digest the events of the past week, Jungian.Directory has gathered a collection of resources to offer some food for thought, or perhaps simply an intellectual escape.
Books:
- Mind of State: Conversations on the Psychological Conflicts Stirring U.S. Politics & Society by Betty Teng, Jonathan Kopp, and Thomas Singer
- From Vision to Folly in the American Soul by Thomas Singer
- Psychological Citizenship and Democracy: The Political Relevance of Hillman’s Archetypal Psychology by Michael P. Sipiora
- The Spectre of the Other in Jungian Psychoanalysis: Political, Psychological, and Sociological Perspectives by Marybeth Carter
- Ideological Possession and the Rise of the New Right: The Political Thought of Carl Jung by Laurie M. Johnson
- The Political Psyche by Andrew Samuels
- Re-Visioning the American Psyche by Ipek S. Burnett
- C.G. Jung and the Crisis in Western Civilization by John A. Cahman
Visit the Jungian.Directory book catalogue to see a comprehensive list of books by Jungian authors that address the topic of politics.
Courses:
- Persona and Shadow in Political Life by C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago: This course explores how Jung’s concept of the shadow influences public life, particularly around issues of race and environmental responsibility.
- The Authoritarian Pandemic in Global Politics by Southern African Association of Jungian Analysts: This course examines the rise of authoritarian leaders, such as Trump, Modi, and Zuma, considering why people support these figures despite their anti-democratic tendencies. Using Jungian archetypes like the Joker/Trickster, it delves into the dual nature of such figures—some seeking justice, others driven by rage and destruction.
Journal Articles:
Visit the Jungian.Directory’s comprehensive catalogue of articles from Jungian journals for a bibliography of articles about politics.