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The Transcendent Function: Jung's Model of Psychological Growth through Dialogue with the Unconscious
Jeffrey C. Miller is a licensed psychologist in Palo Alto, California.
244 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2016
This book is so well written and consistently sourced and on such an important topic to do so with, really makes its points. This book has been invaluable to my studies.
November 3, 2016
The transcendent function is at the core of Jung's theory of psychological growth and the heart of what he called individuation, the process by which one is guided in a teleological way toward the person one is meant to be. It is both fascinating and deeply helpful in human development with its expressed need move out of having a one-sided perspective (dominate type) into being a more whole and balanced individual. Jung argues, "The superior function is as detrimental to the individual as it is valuable to society. . . His function is developed at the expense of his individuality… The time will come when the division in the inner man must be abolished (Jung 1921, pp. 72-74)
[Below is a review using excerpts of the text.]
"There is no consciousness without discrimination of opposites," writes Jung; and "There is no form of human tragedy that does not in some measure proceed from [the] conflict between the ego and the unconscious.
Whatever attitude exists in the conscious mind, and whichever psychological function is dominant, the opposite is in the unconscious. This situation seldom precipitates a crisis in the first half of life. But for older people who reach an impasse, characterized by a one-sided conscious attitude and the blockage of energy, it is necessary to bring to light psychic contents that have been repressed.
The repressed content must be made conscious so as to produce a tension of opposites, without which no forward movement is possible. The conscious mind is on top, the shadow underneath, and just as high always longs for low and hot for cold, so all consciousness, perhaps without being aware of it, seeks its unconscious opposite, lacking which it is doomed to stagnation, congestion, and ossification. Life is born only of the spark of opposites. This in turn activates the process of compensation, which leads to an irrational "third," the transcendent function.
Out of [the] collision of opposites the unconscious psyche always creates a third thing of an irrational nature, which the conscious mind neither expects nor understands. It presents itself in a form that is neither a straight "yes" nor a straight "no."
Jung explained the potential renewal of the personality in terms of the principle of entropy in physics, according to which transformations of energy in a relatively closed system take place, and are only possible, as a result of differences in intensity.
"Psychologically, we can see this process at work in the development of a lasting and relatively unchanging attitude. After violent oscillations at the beginning the opposites equalize one another, and gradually a new attitude develops, the final stability of which is the greater in proportion to the magnitude of the initial differences. The greater the tension between the pairs of opposites, the greater will be the energy that comes from them . . . [and] the less chance is there of subsequent disturbances which might arise from friction with material not previously constellated."
Some degree of tension between consciousness and the unconsciousness is both unavoidable and necessary. The aim of analysis is therefore not to eliminate the tension but rather to understand the role it plays in the self-regulation of the psyche. Moreover, the assimilation of unconscious contents results in the ego becoming responsible for what was previously unconscious. There is thus no question of anyone ever being completely at peace.
The united personality will never quite lose the painful sense of innate discord. Complete redemption from the sufferings of this world is and must remain an illusion. Christ's earthly life likewise ended, not in complacent bliss, but on the cross.
Jung further believed that anyone who attempts to deal with the problem of the opposites on a personal level is making a significant contribution toward world peace. For the psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves.
[Below is a review using excerpts of the text.]
"There is no consciousness without discrimination of opposites," writes Jung; and "There is no form of human tragedy that does not in some measure proceed from [the] conflict between the ego and the unconscious.
Whatever attitude exists in the conscious mind, and whichever psychological function is dominant, the opposite is in the unconscious. This situation seldom precipitates a crisis in the first half of life. But for older people who reach an impasse, characterized by a one-sided conscious attitude and the blockage of energy, it is necessary to bring to light psychic contents that have been repressed.
The repressed content must be made conscious so as to produce a tension of opposites, without which no forward movement is possible. The conscious mind is on top, the shadow underneath, and just as high always longs for low and hot for cold, so all consciousness, perhaps without being aware of it, seeks its unconscious opposite, lacking which it is doomed to stagnation, congestion, and ossification. Life is born only of the spark of opposites. This in turn activates the process of compensation, which leads to an irrational "third," the transcendent function.
Out of [the] collision of opposites the unconscious psyche always creates a third thing of an irrational nature, which the conscious mind neither expects nor understands. It presents itself in a form that is neither a straight "yes" nor a straight "no."
Jung explained the potential renewal of the personality in terms of the principle of entropy in physics, according to which transformations of energy in a relatively closed system take place, and are only possible, as a result of differences in intensity.
"Psychologically, we can see this process at work in the development of a lasting and relatively unchanging attitude. After violent oscillations at the beginning the opposites equalize one another, and gradually a new attitude develops, the final stability of which is the greater in proportion to the magnitude of the initial differences. The greater the tension between the pairs of opposites, the greater will be the energy that comes from them . . . [and] the less chance is there of subsequent disturbances which might arise from friction with material not previously constellated."
Some degree of tension between consciousness and the unconsciousness is both unavoidable and necessary. The aim of analysis is therefore not to eliminate the tension but rather to understand the role it plays in the self-regulation of the psyche. Moreover, the assimilation of unconscious contents results in the ego becoming responsible for what was previously unconscious. There is thus no question of anyone ever being completely at peace.
The united personality will never quite lose the painful sense of innate discord. Complete redemption from the sufferings of this world is and must remain an illusion. Christ's earthly life likewise ended, not in complacent bliss, but on the cross.
Jung further believed that anyone who attempts to deal with the problem of the opposites on a personal level is making a significant contribution toward world peace. For the psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves.
May 19, 2019
One thing I disliked about the book is some repetitiveness which made several lines redundant. Nevertheless, this was a very good reading and I especially enjoyed the parallels it drew in ch V, together with the attempt to solve some of the inconsistencies within Jung's thought.
Miller succeeded in depicting the key role of the Trascendent Function in jungian analysis, smoothly and clearly, by accurately simplifying complex concepts. The outcome is very organic. This is definitely a reading I'm going to recommend to my fellow fans of Jung.
Miller succeeded in depicting the key role of the Trascendent Function in jungian analysis, smoothly and clearly, by accurately simplifying complex concepts. The outcome is very organic. This is definitely a reading I'm going to recommend to my fellow fans of Jung.
February 5, 2021
Superb book! Marked over 150 lenghty quotes, which is rare for me. Highly recommended!
November 24, 2021
A well summarized and discernable book depicting and comparing two versions of the transcendent function articles published by C.G.Jung, initially and at the end of his career.
August 23, 2012
Great foundation of Jung's transcendent Function ideology...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews