\u201cAs a rule, whenever such a falsication of type takes place . . . the individual becomes neurotic later, and can be cured only by developing the attitude consonant with his nature\u201d \u2013 C.G. Jung<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With this article, Pedro Guilherme das Neves Mendes reviews the important concept of type falsification. A psychologist and coach originally from Portugal, he now lives in Switzerland. I am very pleased to welcome Pedro as a contributor to these articles. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Falsification of Type<\/strong> <\/p>\n For Jung, individuals are not born as a tabula rasa, meaning that we have certain innate dispositions and preferences. External events play a very important, but not decisive role.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, it must be the individual disposition which decides whether the child will belong to this or that type despite the constancy of external conditions.\u201d (CW6, par. 560)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIndividual disposition\u201d for Jung means not only biologically determined but also psychically imprinted-an idea he thoroughly explores in depth psychology through his theory of archetypes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Psychological type dispositions (gifts) can be understood as an expression of particular archetypal patterns that are potentiated or repressed by the external conditions of family, social or career contexts, and community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What happens when these external conditions repress the expression of natural gifts? Sometimes we have to sacrifice \u201cwho we are\u201d to \u201cwhat we believe we were supposed be.\u201d Responding to our parents, family or teachers expectations can repress our natural gifts and develop others that are more useful or more positively reinforced.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If, for example, social interaction and pragmatism are more highly valued in a family, an introverted thoughtful child might have to repress her natural gifts, developing a more extraverted and sociable persona. We would call that repression, and the accompanying adaptive persona, a \u201cfalsification of type.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUnder abnormal conditions, i.e., when the mother\u2019s own attitude is extreme . . . violating the individual disposition, [the children] might have opted for another type if no abnormal external influences had intervened\u201d (ibid.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are the consequences of a falsification of type? According to Jung, the compromise can be dangerous: \u201cAs a rule, whenever such a falsification of type takes place . . . the individual becomes neurotic later, and can be cured only by developing the attitude consonant with his nature\u201d (ibid)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jung\u2019s position is consistent with his concept of individuation\u2013the personal journey of self-awareness and self-development where we are naturally and irresistibly called to discover who we really are. We may often need to detach from external demands to act or perform in a certain way\u2013the collective consciousness\u2013to live the life we were born to live.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first step in the \u201cindividuation adventure\u201d is to find our gifts, and then to live according to them. If our natural gifts have been repressed, we must ultimately return to the first step to rediscover them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cAs a rule, whenever such a falsication of type takes place . . . the individual becomes neurotic later, and can be cured only by<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychological-type"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nfalseOne of the most important discussions in psychology is about \u201cnature versus nurture\u201d or the \u201cinnate versus the context\u201d. Which plays the more important role in our psychological development and characteristics?<\/p>\n