Civilized life today demands concentrated, directed conscious functioning, and this entails the risk of a considerable dissociation from the unconscious – C. G. Jung
In this series of articles Jungian analyst Vanessa Goodman is looking at lifelong development and how an awareness of the types can help navigate what Jung called the “stages of life.” Having written about some important aspects of adulthood, she now turns her attention to midlife. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. jgj
As we saw in previous articles, the task of the first part of life is often to firmly establish a career, a family, or a social identity. In terms of the psychological types, this often means using our best-developed gifts.
But for Jung, this necessary development can lead to one-sidedness and self-estrangement:
“It is therefore understandable, and even necessary, that in each individual the psychic process should be as stable and definite as possible, since the exigencies of life demands it. But this involves a certain disadvantage: the utility of directedness make for the inhibition or exclusion of all those psychic elements which appear to be, or really are, incompatible with it.” (CW 8, par. 136)
In midlife, the deeper process of individuation often sets in. This can be brought about by external circumstances (loss of job, illness, or divorce, for example) and/or an inner urge to find a larger meaning in life.
This phase can require much effort to come to terms with the one-sidedness developed in the first half of life. Through the integration of what was left out from consciousness: repressed memories, shadow aspects or counter-sexual aspects (animus/anima), we become more whole.
In terms of psychological types, we might engage more consciously some of the functions that had remained undeveloped. The function least developed is often referred to as the “inferior function.”
Indeed, if we keep relying on a few dominant functions and overly identify with them, they become rigid or extreme. In her book on the inferior function, M.L von Franz writes: “If you overdo one of the conscious attitudes it becomes poor and loses its fertility”.
The inferior function may be our “weak spot,” but it also carries a great deal of vitality and value for “. . . beneath the neglected functions there lie hidden far higher individual values . . . that can endow the individual with an intensity and beauty he will vainly seek in his collective functions ” ( CW6, par. 113)
As we saw in previous articles, the task of the first part of life is often to firmly establish a career, a family, or a social identity. In terms of the psychological types, this often means using our best-developed gifts.
But for Jung, this necessary development can lead to one-sidedness and self-estrangement:
“It is therefore understandable, and even necessary, that in each individual the psychic process should be as stable and definite as possible, since the exigencies of life demands it. But this involves a certain disadvantage: the utility of directedness make for the inhibition or exclusion of all those psychic elements which appear to be, or really are, incompatible with it.” (CW8, par. 136)
In midlife, the deeper process of individuation often sets in. This can be brought about by external circumstances (loss of job, illness, or divorce, for example) and/or an inner urge to find a larger meaning in life.
This phase can require much effort to come to terms with the one-sidedness developed in the first half of life. Through the integration of what was left out from consciousness: repressed memories, shadow aspects or counter-sexual aspects (animus/anima), we become more whole.
In terms of psychological types, we might engage more consciously some of the functions that had remained undeveloped. The function least developed is often referred to as the “inferior function.”
Indeed, if we keep relying on a few dominant functions and overly identify with them, they become rigid or extreme. In her book on the inferior function, M.L von Franz writes: “If you overdo one of the conscious attitudes it becomes poor and loses its fertility”.
The inferior function may be our “weak spot,” but it also carries a great deal of vitality and value for “. . . beneath the neglected functions there lie hidden far higher individual values . . . that can endow the individual with an intensity and beauty he will vainly seek in his collective functions. ” (CW6, par. 113)
Vanessa Goodman
www.vanessagoodman.com
2/1/2014