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The Theory of Psychoanalysis
Although the theories presented in this book, a 1915 edition of the lectures Jung presented at Fordham University, are now thoroughly outdated, this book is still a fascinating glimpse of Jung's mind at a crucial time in his life. Just three years previously, he had struck out on his own, publishing his Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido, known in English as Psychology of the Unconscious. That book represented his break from the Vienna school led by Freud, and also represented the end of the deeply emotional relationship between Jung and Freud. Jung's thought is now moving in his own path; he is no longer a Freudian, but he isn't yet a Jungian; the development of his own theory of psychology has a long way to go. So, in this book, we see him in transition, his thought a work in progress, his theory a project still under construction. The ideas which we remember him for are taking root; watching them do so is a fascinating experience for students of psychology and its history.
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Published August 5, 2011
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About the author
C.G. Jung
1,873 books11.3k followersCarl Gustav Jung (/jʊŋ/; German: [ˈkarl ˈɡʊstaf jʊŋ]), often referred to as C. G. Jung, was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology. Jung proposed and developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion; archetypes, and the collective unconscious. His work has been influential in psychiatry and in the study of religion, philosophy, archeology, anthropology, literature, and related fields. He was a prolific writer, many of whose works were not published until after his death.
The central concept of analytical psychology is individuation—the psychological process of integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of human development.
Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including the archetype, the collective unconscious, the complex, and synchronicity. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, has been developed from Jung's theory of psychological types.
Though he was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring tangential areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult led many to view him as a mystic, although his ambition was to be seen as a man of science. His influence on popular psychology, the "psychologization of religion", spirituality and the New Age movement has been immense.
The central concept of analytical psychology is individuation—the psychological process of integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of human development.
Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including the archetype, the collective unconscious, the complex, and synchronicity. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, has been developed from Jung's theory of psychological types.
Though he was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring tangential areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult led many to view him as a mystic, although his ambition was to be seen as a man of science. His influence on popular psychology, the "psychologization of religion", spirituality and the New Age movement has been immense.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 7, 2011
Although the theories presented in this book, a 1915 edition of the lectures Jung presented at Fordham University, are now thoroughly outdated, this book is still a fascinating glimpse of Jung's mind at a crucial time in his life. Just three years previously, he had struck out on his own, publishing his Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido, known in English as Psychology of the Unconscious. That book represented his break from the Vienna school led by Freud, and also represented the end of the deeply emotional relationship between Jung and Freud. Jung's thought is now moving in his own path; he is no longer a Freudian, but he isn't yet a Jungian; the development of his own theory of psychology has a long way to go. So, in this book, we see him in transition, his thought a work in progress, his theory a project still under construction. The ideas which we remember him for are taking root; watching them do so is a fascinating experience for students of psychology and its history.
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July 23, 2014Don't read this till you read Freud's complete work and warning Freud's complete works is about 5,000 Pages. That said, and being as naive as i usually am when choosing where to start, Jung is the total opposite of Freud. When he presents his argument, the reader would defiantly be attentive and would actually grasp the arguments even without any background knowledge. I am starting to become more fond of this man's work than i expected. Its makes me feel as if we are kinda portrayed as a 100% mechanical objects with Freud. I will have to discover that and update this review, but generally, Jung is somehow the person i would seek if i choose to further understand the concepts presented by Freud or others.
April 17, 2020
An interesting read! Very impressed by the effort Jung goes to negate bias and put emphasis on the data. He gives a clear run-through of Psychoanalysis at the time, often analyzing the merits and pitfalls of Freudian theory. Very nteresting reading a scientific review with case studies from the early 1900s in Europe.
May 21, 2025
I read this to deepen my knowledge of Jung. This was written before Jung broke with Freud. I found it complex, vague, and difficult to follow (maybe my tiny brain). It sounded smart, leading to feelings of ‘if only I was a bit smarter’ I could follow this. It also smelt like bullshit, maybe Jung was trying and validate the ideas of Freud as his appointed acolyte? I find Jung’s writing following Jung’s break with Freud much clearer.
I found the thoughts about the relationship between phantasy and neurosis useful (that the neurotic person is likely to engage in phantasy that they find overwhelming and can become destructive as it moves further away from reality). I think this is epitomised in Jane Austin’s Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. She has a neurosis that leads her to all sorts of problems, and it is part of her charm to Henry Tilney.
Jung goes into the Oedipus complex, which is often dismissed as one of Freud’s more loony ideas. The way Jung explains it make more sense as a competition between a Father and Son (which I would expand to children) for the libidenous energy of the Wife/Mother. I suspect there is a propensity, conscious or unconscious, for some women to play their children off against their partners and allow them to compete for this energy. Given this perspective, I believe the Oedipus that is more common than we care to admit. Terrance Real identifies when men becoming physically enmeshed with their daughters as wrong and damaging and then goes onto identify the women can become emotionally enmeshed with their son’s which causes comparable damage to the psyche. This is the Oedipus complex in action, and we do not have the language to talk about this. Thus because we have to language, we have no ability to socially sanction this. The Oedipus complex works symbolically.
The most interesting part of reading 100 year old books is seeking what is useful and resonates. The Lindy effect suggests this will still resonate in 100 years time, as this is most likely part of our human nature. I found a couple of useful nuggets in the text and although difficult it was not wasted.
I found the thoughts about the relationship between phantasy and neurosis useful (that the neurotic person is likely to engage in phantasy that they find overwhelming and can become destructive as it moves further away from reality). I think this is epitomised in Jane Austin’s Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey. She has a neurosis that leads her to all sorts of problems, and it is part of her charm to Henry Tilney.
Jung goes into the Oedipus complex, which is often dismissed as one of Freud’s more loony ideas. The way Jung explains it make more sense as a competition between a Father and Son (which I would expand to children) for the libidenous energy of the Wife/Mother. I suspect there is a propensity, conscious or unconscious, for some women to play their children off against their partners and allow them to compete for this energy. Given this perspective, I believe the Oedipus that is more common than we care to admit. Terrance Real identifies when men becoming physically enmeshed with their daughters as wrong and damaging and then goes onto identify the women can become emotionally enmeshed with their son’s which causes comparable damage to the psyche. This is the Oedipus complex in action, and we do not have the language to talk about this. Thus because we have to language, we have no ability to socially sanction this. The Oedipus complex works symbolically.
The most interesting part of reading 100 year old books is seeking what is useful and resonates. The Lindy effect suggests this will still resonate in 100 years time, as this is most likely part of our human nature. I found a couple of useful nuggets in the text and although difficult it was not wasted.
January 26, 2022
It seemed quite outdated. The language was sometimes quite awkward and old-fashioned, but the ideas were still very interesting. Trying to alter the meaning of the term 'libido' from a sexual one to one of desire to act in any way, seemed a little strange to me. Perhaps it was because Jung wanted to stay consistent with Freud's language, who he obviously admired at this point.
Jung seems to go out of his way to be balanced in analysis if the field, putting forth and addressing many of the common arguments against it at the time. That was quite admirable. He seems to also go out of his way to stress that Psychoanalysis was based in real-world science, but ultimately he failed to convince me of that, and it still seemed very much like theorizing. Very captivating and plausible theorizing, but theorizing nonetheless.
Jung's influence on Jordan Peterson is quite clear in a rather satisfying way. Beyond just the 'collective unconscious', archetypes and analysis of myths and fairy-tales, there is a comparison to be made between their practical advice for overcoming neurosis by dealing with the everyday responsibilities of life. Particularly comforting was Jung's assertion that the cure for any patient was not to curb their negative thoughts and behaviours, but to nurture and encourage the true self to emerge. And this is much more than Pollyannaish positive thinking, it is also quite rational. A person true to themselves is a healthy person. That's quite a re-assuring thought. 'Fixing' oneself is not really 'fixing' unfavourable thoughts or behaviours, it's actually restoring the true self. That's a much better and more forgiving way to think about things.
Jung seems to go out of his way to be balanced in analysis if the field, putting forth and addressing many of the common arguments against it at the time. That was quite admirable. He seems to also go out of his way to stress that Psychoanalysis was based in real-world science, but ultimately he failed to convince me of that, and it still seemed very much like theorizing. Very captivating and plausible theorizing, but theorizing nonetheless.
Jung's influence on Jordan Peterson is quite clear in a rather satisfying way. Beyond just the 'collective unconscious', archetypes and analysis of myths and fairy-tales, there is a comparison to be made between their practical advice for overcoming neurosis by dealing with the everyday responsibilities of life. Particularly comforting was Jung's assertion that the cure for any patient was not to curb their negative thoughts and behaviours, but to nurture and encourage the true self to emerge. And this is much more than Pollyannaish positive thinking, it is also quite rational. A person true to themselves is a healthy person. That's quite a re-assuring thought. 'Fixing' oneself is not really 'fixing' unfavourable thoughts or behaviours, it's actually restoring the true self. That's a much better and more forgiving way to think about things.
Currently reading
November 21, 2024About 25% in and it's not really recommending itself to me.
There's a lot here about "oh but children ARE sexual" which seems like the answer to a question long since put to rest. This comes from a time when the idea of sex abuse still was fairly newish and it seems mostly a debate with Freud.
75% in and I gotta say-- this guy sounds like an absolutely terrible therapist. I mean, this is what people who are making jokes about shrinks say. He's rigid in his conviction that he's doing good, while simultaneously being utterly convinced that his patient's memories of sexual abuse can't be true.
He spends a ton of time explaining that he's not planting ideas in his patients' heads, but also has the utter conviction that you're not supposed to believe the first thing they tell you. Or the second. Eventually, the patient starts saying shit that sounds like an acceptable Victorian fiction-- protestations of love! adultery! homosexuality that would have been cured if only the fair maid had accepted his suit!-- and he's convinced that he's hit upon the truth. ffs.
I mean, it's a look at a different world and a completely different conception of how civilized we are and the expectations of decency in straight white males.
But everyone else is shafted entirely.
10/10 would not want to be this guy's patient. But it's a look at how far psychology has come.
There's a lot here about "oh but children ARE sexual" which seems like the answer to a question long since put to rest. This comes from a time when the idea of sex abuse still was fairly newish and it seems mostly a debate with Freud.
75% in and I gotta say-- this guy sounds like an absolutely terrible therapist. I mean, this is what people who are making jokes about shrinks say. He's rigid in his conviction that he's doing good, while simultaneously being utterly convinced that his patient's memories of sexual abuse can't be true.
He spends a ton of time explaining that he's not planting ideas in his patients' heads, but also has the utter conviction that you're not supposed to believe the first thing they tell you. Or the second. Eventually, the patient starts saying shit that sounds like an acceptable Victorian fiction-- protestations of love! adultery! homosexuality that would have been cured if only the fair maid had accepted his suit!-- and he's convinced that he's hit upon the truth. ffs.
I mean, it's a look at a different world and a completely different conception of how civilized we are and the expectations of decency in straight white males.
But everyone else is shafted entirely.
10/10 would not want to be this guy's patient. But it's a look at how far psychology has come.
April 15, 2021
A clear book concise describing the nature of Jungian Psychoanalysis as it was written at the time.
What stood out to me was how Jung pioneered the idea of analyzing dreams stood out to me, exploring the unconscious origin of dreams and analyzing where the parts of the dream arose.
Even negative dreams expressed by the subconscious could be potentially helpful in drawing attention to an imbalance; for example, depression could result from an individual suppressing particular feelings or not following a path that is natural and true to their particular personality.
Jung saw dreams as the psyche’s attempt to communicate important things to the individual, and he valued them highly, perhaps above all else, as a way of knowing what was really going on. While I'm not sure the idea stood up to the test of time.
Additionally, the book helped clean up a lot of the stereotypes about psychoanalysis.
"Children are small violent dangerous people ready to kill. Fortunately they are mostly harmless."
Well done Jung, well done.
What stood out to me was how Jung pioneered the idea of analyzing dreams stood out to me, exploring the unconscious origin of dreams and analyzing where the parts of the dream arose.
Even negative dreams expressed by the subconscious could be potentially helpful in drawing attention to an imbalance; for example, depression could result from an individual suppressing particular feelings or not following a path that is natural and true to their particular personality.
Jung saw dreams as the psyche’s attempt to communicate important things to the individual, and he valued them highly, perhaps above all else, as a way of knowing what was really going on. While I'm not sure the idea stood up to the test of time.
Additionally, the book helped clean up a lot of the stereotypes about psychoanalysis.
"Children are small violent dangerous people ready to kill. Fortunately they are mostly harmless."
Well done Jung, well done.
May 1, 2021
One of Carl Jung poorest written books from all I have read. He is a genius, however I don’t think anything other than the first few chapters can be held in high regard as he is at fault of his own personal analysis’s of having the same faults that he so heavily criticized Frued for, however specifically for the female gender. Would highly recommend reading Psychological Types and Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious. If you do want to read this, make sure to read atleast some Frued before, such as A general Introduction into psychoanalysis as well as Three Essasys on Sexuality so that you will be able to properly understand his criticisms on Frued.
December 3, 2024
С чем я иду спать:
“Никогда не следует забывать, что мир - это прежде всего субъективный феномен. Впечатления, которые мы получаем от этих случайных событий, зависят от нас самих. Неверно, что впечатления навязываются безусловно извне; впечатление обусловливает наша собственная предрасположенность. У человека, чье либидо заблокировано, впечатления будут, как правило, совсем другие и гораздо более яркие, чем у того, чье либидо организовано в различные виды деятельности. Одно и то же событие произведет на чувствительного человека глубокое впечатление, тогда как менее чувствительного оставит равнодушным”
“Никогда не следует забывать, что мир - это прежде всего субъективный феномен. Впечатления, которые мы получаем от этих случайных событий, зависят от нас самих. Неверно, что впечатления навязываются безусловно извне; впечатление обусловливает наша собственная предрасположенность. У человека, чье либидо заблокировано, впечатления будут, как правило, совсем другие и гораздо более яркие, чем у того, чье либидо организовано в различные виды деятельности. Одно и то же событие произведет на чувствительного человека глубокое впечатление, тогда как менее чувствительного оставит равнодушным”
May 15, 2018
Un libro que se contrapone mucho a las teorías de Freud. No tanto en el sentido de que sea el opuesto a él sino que muestra otro enfoque donde, por ejemplo, el libido o deseo sexual pasa de ser la raíz de todo a un motor que pone en movimiento otros mecanismos. No creo que sea apropiado para gente sin conocimiento del tema pero si para aquellos que apenas se están introduciendo a la materia.
April 3, 2021
The word 'libido' dominates(as far as I could tell) most parts of this works! And no - it carries with it a different meaning - partially - from its widespread usage today. They were some startling realizations for me in this works… Some I still speculate on their validities. Nonetheless, marks a good intro to the psychoanalysis method!
October 17, 2025
★★★★☆☆☆
I haven't done the necessary learning about the realm of psychotherapy prior to this work that would lend it more meaning to me. That being said, there is some interesting stuff in here. It certainly is very of its time, but it is interesting to see where there are elements that still persist to our understanding today.
I haven't done the necessary learning about the realm of psychotherapy prior to this work that would lend it more meaning to me. That being said, there is some interesting stuff in here. It certainly is very of its time, but it is interesting to see where there are elements that still persist to our understanding today.
November 17, 2020
clear and direct book describing psychoanalytic treatment. This was before he broke with freud over his finding of the centrality of sexuality in many emotional problems.
February 13, 2024
Masterpiece.
January 25, 2025
No ceso de leer a hombres realmente imbéciles. Sería interesante estudiar el porqué de esta insistencia mía. Daddy issues creo jjj
August 11, 2020
A bit outdated, but still worthwhile
January 5, 2024
TLDR:
As someone without any background in psychology or social studies related to that field, this book was difficult to understand because of its technical wording. But after dedicating some time and effort, I understood Jung's expressions and meaning.
I believe this is a good option for a second or third book for someone who wants to start psychology-related reading but take a good time reading any line or paragraph that seems unclear to understand the book's meaning.
As someone without any background in psychology or social studies related to that field, this book was difficult to understand because of its technical wording. But after dedicating some time and effort, I understood Jung's expressions and meaning.
I believe this is a good option for a second or third book for someone who wants to start psychology-related reading but take a good time reading any line or paragraph that seems unclear to understand the book's meaning.
September 20, 2015
Both trenchant and whimsical, Jung brought spirituality by another name into psychoanalysis.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews