Carl Gustav Jung is one of the most prominent names in the field of psychology. This Swiss psychiatrist is considered to be the founder of analytical psychology. He is known all over the world for his famous concept of collective unconscious. He has influenced deeply not only psychology but also philosophy and arts.
Jung's Concept of Psychology
Carl Jung's concept of psychology has strongly emphasized on the interpretation of human psyche. He did it by connecting it with the world of dreams, philosophy, art, mythology and world religion.
For most of his life, Carl Jung was a theoretical psychologist and a practicing clinician. During his life time, he explored other realms, including Eastern and Western philosophy, literature, alchemy, sociology, astrology and arts. His concept of the Jungian archetype, the theory of synchronicity and collective unconscious are some of his greatest contributions in the field of psychology. He emphasized on the importance of balance and harmony in life. He recommended integration of spirituality and the unconscious realm.
Jung's Early Life
On 26th July, 1875, Carl Gustav Jung was born in Kesswil in Switzerland. Jung's father, Johannes Paul Achilles Jung was a parson in the Swiss Reformed Church and his mother Emilie Preiswerk belonged to a wealthy family of Switzerland. He grew up in a fairly well educated family and came in contact with few clergymen and some eccentrics. When he was 6years old, Jung took Latin classes and grew interest for language and literature, preferably ancient literature. Apart from modern western European languages, Jung was well versed in many ancient languages, including Sanskrit.
Jung graduated with medicine from the University of Basel from 1894 to 1900. After completing his
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graduation, he practice. joined the Burghoeltzli Mental Hospital in Zürich. He worked under the guidance of Eugene Bleuler, who was an expert of schizophrenia. He took classes at the University of Zürich and also took up private
Jung's Later Life
Jung published his book The Psychology of Dementia Praecox, which was based on his study on schizophrenia. His next book Studies in Word Association was published in 1906 and he sent a copy of the book to famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. In 1907, he met Freud in Vienna. They had a long conversation which spanned for 13 hours. These two great minds had discussed on various topics. Gradually, Freud considered Jung as the crown prince of psychoanalysis and also his heir.
During his trip to America in 1909, their relationship soured. During their journey they were analyzing each others' dreams just for fun. But Freud showed a resistance towards the efforts of Jung in analyzing his dream. Finally they had to stop the discussion at the request of Freud and Jung felt insulted at this episode. The ties were finally broken after the publication of Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912, Symbols of Transformation), by Jung.
After World War I, Jung traveled extensively to Northern Africa, New Mexico, Kenya. He delivered the famous Terry Lectures on Psychology and Religion at Yale University in 1938. During this period in his life Jung visited India and he was deeply involved with Eastern philosophies and religions. His visit to India led in the formation of concepts of ideology and thus incorporating spirituality into daily life and admiration of the unconscious. Jung married Emma Rauschenbach in 1903 and had five children with her.
Jung deeply believed in the spiritual purpose of life beyond the material goals. His inferences are based on his study of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Gnosticism, Taoism, and other traditions. After a short illness, Jung died in 1961 in Zürich.
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