The Symbolic Quest Basic Concepts of Analytical Psychology Book Review

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May 23, 2012 Erik Graff rated it liked information technology · review of some other edition

Recommends it for: Jungians

Recommended to Erik past: no ane

I read this dorsum at Grinnell College, back when I was picking upwardly and reading everything I could discover about C.G. Jung and Analytical Psychology. Looking dorsum, it was cypher special, just another rehash of the Master's ideas. I read this dorsum at Grinnell College, dorsum when I was picking upwardly and reading everything I could find about C.K. Jung and Analytical Psychology. Looking back, it was cipher special, just another rehash of the Master's ideas. ...more

May 08, 2013 Sandra rated it it was amazing

By far the all-time and nigh comprehensive intro to Jungian psychology.

This is probably the all-time introduction to Carl Jung's work. Information technology explains key concepts conspicuously, with depth and insight. The inclusion of examples from clinical experience add to the richness. This is probably the best introduction to Carl Jung's piece of work. It explains key concepts clearly, with depth and insight. The inclusion of examples from clinical experience add to the richness. ...more

Dec 27, 2020 BobK21 rated it it was astonishing

"Like the cantlet, the psyche and its contents are non physical objects that tin can be seen or touched, simply unlike the atom they cannot even be made to fit the conditions of laboratory testing and statistical evaluation. We cannot speak of the psyche as a matter that is or does this or that. At best we can speak of it indirectly by describing human behavior — the beliefs of others and too our own subjective experience — as if it expressed aspects of a hypothetical pattern of significant, as if an encompa "Like the atom, the psyche and its contents are not concrete objects that can be seen or touched, merely dissimilar the atom they cannot even be made to fit the conditions of laboratory testing and statistical evaluation. We cannot speak of the psyche equally a thing that is or does this or that. At best nosotros can speak of it indirectly by describing human behavior — the behavior of others and too our own subjective feel — as if it expressed aspects of a hypothetical pattern of meaning, as if an encompassing wholeness were ordering the action of the parts. For instance, we can recognize that an autonomous impulse or a hitherto subconscious personality pattern has emerged and behaved as if it intended a sure activity which was meaningful in relation to that encompassing wholeness. The about basic hypothesis about the man psyche with which we bargain here, is that of a pattern of wholeness that can only be described symbolically." — Edward Whitmont

What are symbols? How do we utilise these "images of contents that transcend consciousness" to explore, apprehend, and make use of our intuitive and non-rational realms of psychological functioning? How do they utilise usa?

How do they open our horizons toward the acceptance of a different attitude toward life and action in the earth, towards a greater respect for and relatedness to the mystery of our own souls? How do they seek our dedication to the fundamental mystery of life that's forever beyond our rational grasp and control, which has a meaning, purpose, and power of regeneration all of its own?

How do they describe a pattern of wholeness that'due south calling united states forward into a process of ever-deepening private differentiation that as well serves to enrich the world?

Exercise these kinds of questions intensely interest you? Practice y'all quest for symbolic experience? If y'all do, this book is worth exploring.

In a different work Theodor Abt has concisely outlined the position of Analytical Psychology, which theorizes that the "image" is the basic functional chemical element of the human soul:

"The word image is used simply in the sense of a representation. Perception of the outer world — the estimation of all the impulses of the sense organs by the brain — occurs via representations, via images. The neurobiologist Gerald Hüther, in the course of his research concerning the power of images, speaks of the marriage of what is seen in the outer globe and and then overlaid with the inner as the transformation of the outer image into a new, specific see-image; what is heard is transformed into an inner hear-image; what is smelled becomes an inner scent-image; what is touched an inner touch-epitome. If the emotional impact of these images is potent plenty, they reach consciousness. Whatsoever becomes conscious first appears as an image. A psychic entity tin can be represented — and thus become a conscious content — just if it has the quality of an epitome. Images are central to the process of becoming conscious."

Sense perceptions are inherently affectively charged, and are neurophysiologically and neuropsychologically organized into charged representations/images; affectively-charged images are the basic psychic vehicles that bring 'contents' to consciousness. Their accuse volition trigger reactions that influence and make up one's mind behavior; sometimes these reactions need to happen very quickly.

The direct experience of these images is a main mode of human functioning; these affectively-charged representations are what anybody wakes and dreams in.

With regards to how our souls utilise images of the external world to represent inner territory, Edward Whitmont writes:

"The offset unproblematic course of conscious perception occurs through the merging of sense perceptions into comprehensive images. Every bit we see most clearly in the mental processes of children, unconscious psychic performance first reaches a conscious land in terms of the images of external forms with which we have experience. The external globe gives us our vocabulary and our but means of approaching the transcendental reality of the things in themselves. What these things in themselves are we cannot know, for we are limited to our typical human modes of experiencing. Indeed, the concept of the "thing in itself" is itself an expression of brainchild and rational thought, bundled in a cause-effect club and adamant by the questions: where from? how? where to?

The structuring of our minds makes u.s. experience existence in the dualistic form of a world of "external" objects which we are able to organize, and a world of "internal" impulses which we find difficult to master. But in both dimensions nosotros perceive by way of images. The same images which present themselves to us as representatives of the external world are used by the psyche to limited the internal world.

The realization of the being of i'due south inner globe every bit an entity of its own comes to consciousness relatively belatedly. When this begins to occur, consciousness has already established itself in terms of abstract conceptualizations based upon, but also separated from, the original outer images. These images of outer objects are the commencement units of psychic operation, and the only points at which the conscious heed touches or reaches dorsum to the source of its being, the unconscious psyche. The unconscious itself, since it is unconscious, is imageless, concept-less. Nosotros cannot comprehend the thing in itself; images are the bones units by which we apprehend it. Nosotros can at best speculate about it in terms of energy currents, dynamisms, etc., merely even these are abstruse concepts gained from observed external images.

Since the original unit of the image becomes initially established in relation to the experiencing of external objects, images are likely to regarded equally only pertaining to these external objects past a hyper-rational consciousness that lacks acceptable awareness of the inner dimension. To this consciousness the prototype of water in a dream is assumed to refer to drinkable H2O, fifty-fifty when it arises not from an external perceptual stimulus, just from an inner state like water.

Whenever the psyche attempts to present us with an sensation of an inner dimension which nosotros have no previous experience of (since we have so far merely learned to orient ourselves to external things), this can occur only through linking this new and unknown territory with the image of some outer object; unexplored inner territory is mapped past the higher intelligence of the psyche, which expresses this territory in terms of the image of some outer object. In the instance of the dream or fantasy epitome of water, we are really being confronted with an outer epitome which at present means inner water: "h2o of life", "fountain of youth" are interpretations much closer to the kinds of pregnant expressed in the inner dimension. When interpreted every bit representations of external objects, images in the context of dream or fantasy are meaningless and seemingly irrational.

We begin to run across that the way in which the mind experiences the external world is made to serve a different purpose in the internal realm of accommodation. This apprehension of the previously unconscious globe is a relatively novel developmental phase, which requires for its acceptable functioning and integration a novel ways of perceiving and intuiting inner meaning. This intuiting of meaning points beyond what the external object, whose form the paradigm wears, represents past itself; this is the symbolic fashion of apprehension and functioning."

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Nov 10, 2014 Ryan Murdock rated it information technology was astonishing

The clearest, and maybe the most useful, overview of Jungian psychology that I've read to date. The clearest, and perhaps the virtually useful, overview of Jungian psychology that I've read to appointment. ...more than

This is a great volume that delves deep into the psychology of the Self. At times it is an intense read, only overall it is written for anyone who wants to acquire about themselves and their complexes.

Dec 22, 2018 Gerald Regep rated it it was astonishing

Read this volume considering of a recommendation from a professor. I was looking for a clear only detailed introduction into the ideas and works of psyhologist, Carl Jung.

The book is but that, an excellent introduction. Whitmont is clearly a strong Jungian scholar who knows and understands Jung well.

If y'all're at all interested in understanding Jung's symbolic approach to therapy and psychology and so this book is great. I think Jung's ideas on the archetypes, dreams, and the unconscious listen all offer p

Read this book considering of a recommendation from a professor. I was looking for a clear but detailed introduction into the ideas and works of psyhologist, Carl Jung.

The book is simply that, an fantabulous introduction. Whitmont is clearly a potent Jungian scholar who knows and understands Jung well.

If y'all're at all interested in understanding Jung's symbolic arroyo to therapy and psychology then this book is great. I think Jung's ideas on the archetypes, dreams, and the unconscious mind all offer pragmatic and meaningful ways of engaging in the world. His ideas take made a difference in my life.

Very scholarly tone, but much more accessible to the lay reader than reading Jung's primary text.

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Sep 07, 2015 Ashen rated information technology it was amazing

Some books are worth reading once more over the years. This wonderful work past Edward C. Whitmont supported my client practice with insight and patience for decades. Particularly the updates and adjustments of some of Jung'due south ideas regarding how Anima and Counterinsurgency archetypes influence us, given the leaps of cultural changes since Jung formulated his thoughts. During my recent period of re-reading the volume, very slowly, I dreamed many significant dreams. Some books are worth reading again over the years. This wonderful work by Edward C. Whitmont supported my client do with insight and patience for decades. Particularly the updates and adjustments of some of Jung's ideas regarding how Anima and Animus archetypes influence us, given the leaps of cultural changes since Jung formulated his thoughts. During my recent menstruum of re-reading the book, very slowly, I dreamed many significant dreams. ...more