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Jung, Jungians & Homosexuality
Suggests a psychological theory of homosexuality based on the Jungian approach, and discusses the archetypes of the Masculine, Feminine, and Adrogyne
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 6, 2015
This book was interesting but by no means a light-read. Hopcke dutifully uses the rigor of Jung’s insights into human psychology to derive a theory of homosexual individuation and in the process introduces, to a careful reader, the brilliant schemes for psychoanalysis that are Jung’s gift to mankind. Similarly, he reviews both Jung’s own views and that of his followers on the matter of homosexuality in order to give the reader an understanding of how Jung himself may have treated this interesting aspect of the human psyche if he had been more liberated from the prejudices of his time. Although the book can at times seem rather dense, a dedicated reader will find veins of gold that at times are pages long. I recommend it to anyone who would like to see Jung’s ideas at work and for those members of the LGBT community who, like me, seek to rise to avail themselves of Jung’s techniques to further their personal development.
August 17, 2019
5/5 for only one reason: the truly high seriousness and the mature and professional, as well as psychological, approach of the subject.
The book has been suggested as an optional read while reading another introductory book on Jung, and honestly it's quite interesting to see a psychological take on this delicate subject. Of course, without any basic, and yet solid, Jungian knowledge one has no chance of understanding any of the points of the book. It kind of felt like a PhD paper, honestly. From a scientific point of view, yep, very well done!
P.s. indeed, the contemporary gay male culture is as shockingly sexualized and somewhat disgraceful as one can only assume or imagine, rightfully so. Sorry. It's just the truth. People act and behave like savages, like insatiably horny dogs, and this is easily applicable to the straight world as well. Were are we, as humans, heading towards, really?...
The book has been suggested as an optional read while reading another introductory book on Jung, and honestly it's quite interesting to see a psychological take on this delicate subject. Of course, without any basic, and yet solid, Jungian knowledge one has no chance of understanding any of the points of the book. It kind of felt like a PhD paper, honestly. From a scientific point of view, yep, very well done!
P.s. indeed, the contemporary gay male culture is as shockingly sexualized and somewhat disgraceful as one can only assume or imagine, rightfully so. Sorry. It's just the truth. People act and behave like savages, like insatiably horny dogs, and this is easily applicable to the straight world as well. Were are we, as humans, heading towards, really?...
December 29, 2013
A vital book on its subject.
August 19, 2024
AN EXCELLENT SURVEY OF A LITTLE-KNOWN AREA
Jungian psychotherapist Robert Hopcke wrote in his Introduction to this 1983 book. "There are several explanations for the fact that monograph in English to date exists on homosexuality from a Jungian perspective. The lack of concerted attention ... might, of course, mean that ... since a theory of homosexuality in Jungian psychology has never been developed, perhaps there should never be one. However, I ... find that the lack of a more extended treatment is... something missing. This book, therefore, is an attempt at repairing a hole in a literature so rich in certain areas... This book is a starting point for a more extended examination of a form of love that is universally present between man and man, woman and woman." (Pg. 3)
He adds, "Curiosity about Jung and homosexuality is especially keen since Jung is known very little for his attention to sexuality, and even less so for his writings on homosexuality... Jung indeed never put forth a coherent theory of homosexuality, but he nevertheless wrote about homosexuality clinically and theoretically on a number of occasions..." (Pg. 6) He adds, "My hope is that this book...will push us all toward a deeper and more individualized understanding of the place of homosexuality in everyone's sexuality." (Pg. 8)
He notes early on, "In the eighteen volumes of his Collected Works, homosexuality is mentioned little more than a dozen times; one of those references merely duplicates a case discussion, and all of the references occur in articles whose major focus is in elucidating subjects other than homosexuality itself. There is no doubt that the scarce mention of homosexuality in Jung's writings reflects the relative lack of importance homosexuality occupied in his thought... The lack of any extended discussion on homosexuality certainly has to do with the distinctively inward of Jung's psychological focus." (Pg. 12)
He observes, "he was of the opinion, shared by many psychiatrists of his time, that homosexuality ought not to be a concern of legal authorities." (Pg. 15) Later, he explains, "This attitude seems to be based on two thoughts: first, that homosexuality by itself does not reduce the `value of the individual as a member of society' and, second, that laws making homosexuality a criminal offense are useless and inhuman, and, in fact, promote crimes such as blackmail." (Pg. 51)
He states, "These four passages from Jung's early writings ... seem to indicate that, at this time in his career, Jung viewed homosexuality as a form of immaturity caused, in part, by a disturbance of the relationship with the parents, particularly the mother." (Pg. 23) He later elaborates, "The ... attitude Jung takes toward homosexuality is that homosexuality is a result of psychological immaturity and, consequently, abnormal and disturbed." (Pg. 57)
But he ultimately concludes, "no one has yet been able to put together a contemporary Jungian approach to homosexuality that, if it cannot (or should not try to) explain the mystery and passion of men loving men and women loving women, then at least might deepen our awareness of those currents in our souls which lead in and out of homosexual desires, fantasies, and relationships." (Pg. 128) He summarizes, "The idea that sexual orientation emerges from a complex interaction of the personal and archetypal masculine, feminine and Androgyne gives one a deeper and clearer vision of the inner lives and loves of homosexual and heterosexual men and women in Western cultures, affording each individual the potential wholeness that lies symbolically and emotionally in a primary erotic relationship." (Pg. 187)
This book is an excellent resource for trying to grasp what the implications of Jungian psychology are for same-sex attractions.
Jungian psychotherapist Robert Hopcke wrote in his Introduction to this 1983 book. "There are several explanations for the fact that monograph in English to date exists on homosexuality from a Jungian perspective. The lack of concerted attention ... might, of course, mean that ... since a theory of homosexuality in Jungian psychology has never been developed, perhaps there should never be one. However, I ... find that the lack of a more extended treatment is... something missing. This book, therefore, is an attempt at repairing a hole in a literature so rich in certain areas... This book is a starting point for a more extended examination of a form of love that is universally present between man and man, woman and woman." (Pg. 3)
He adds, "Curiosity about Jung and homosexuality is especially keen since Jung is known very little for his attention to sexuality, and even less so for his writings on homosexuality... Jung indeed never put forth a coherent theory of homosexuality, but he nevertheless wrote about homosexuality clinically and theoretically on a number of occasions..." (Pg. 6) He adds, "My hope is that this book...will push us all toward a deeper and more individualized understanding of the place of homosexuality in everyone's sexuality." (Pg. 8)
He notes early on, "In the eighteen volumes of his Collected Works, homosexuality is mentioned little more than a dozen times; one of those references merely duplicates a case discussion, and all of the references occur in articles whose major focus is in elucidating subjects other than homosexuality itself. There is no doubt that the scarce mention of homosexuality in Jung's writings reflects the relative lack of importance homosexuality occupied in his thought... The lack of any extended discussion on homosexuality certainly has to do with the distinctively inward of Jung's psychological focus." (Pg. 12)
He observes, "he was of the opinion, shared by many psychiatrists of his time, that homosexuality ought not to be a concern of legal authorities." (Pg. 15) Later, he explains, "This attitude seems to be based on two thoughts: first, that homosexuality by itself does not reduce the `value of the individual as a member of society' and, second, that laws making homosexuality a criminal offense are useless and inhuman, and, in fact, promote crimes such as blackmail." (Pg. 51)
He states, "These four passages from Jung's early writings ... seem to indicate that, at this time in his career, Jung viewed homosexuality as a form of immaturity caused, in part, by a disturbance of the relationship with the parents, particularly the mother." (Pg. 23) He later elaborates, "The ... attitude Jung takes toward homosexuality is that homosexuality is a result of psychological immaturity and, consequently, abnormal and disturbed." (Pg. 57)
But he ultimately concludes, "no one has yet been able to put together a contemporary Jungian approach to homosexuality that, if it cannot (or should not try to) explain the mystery and passion of men loving men and women loving women, then at least might deepen our awareness of those currents in our souls which lead in and out of homosexual desires, fantasies, and relationships." (Pg. 128) He summarizes, "The idea that sexual orientation emerges from a complex interaction of the personal and archetypal masculine, feminine and Androgyne gives one a deeper and clearer vision of the inner lives and loves of homosexual and heterosexual men and women in Western cultures, affording each individual the potential wholeness that lies symbolically and emotionally in a primary erotic relationship." (Pg. 187)
This book is an excellent resource for trying to grasp what the implications of Jungian psychology are for same-sex attractions.
December 6, 2020
A really quite fascinating book attempting to bring Jungian thought on homosexuality into a clearer and more accurate understanding of what it is and means to a person's sense of self. The dissection of The Wizard of Oz and why exactly that story appeals to a generation of gay men and the discussion of sexuality as a result of an amalgam of masculine, feminine and androgynous traits are well worth consideration.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews