Jung - An Introduction to His Psychology

by Frieda Fordham, Helen Lloyd (Narrator)

This classic introduction to the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung is important because it is the only English original text he sanctioned in his lifetime. In his personal foreword, he wrote: 'Mrs Frieda Fordham has undertaken the by no means easy task of producing a readable resumé of all my various attempts at a better and more comprehensive understanding of the human psyche. She has delivered a fair and simple account of the main aspects of my psychological work. I am indebted to her for this admirable piece of work.'

Originally issued in 1953, this Introduction immediately became the standard first step for those eager to understand the varied work and thought of this remarkable man. Mrs Fordham explains her reason for attempting the work. She wrote: 'Most people have heard of the late C. G. Jung, often linking him vaguely with Sigmund Freud; and although the terms 'complex', 'introvert', and 'extravert' are often used in everyday speech, few realise they were coined by him. Jung’s influence has been far-reaching, touching many of the human sciences, and his ideas have proved of value in such widely differing fields as biology and theology. Many of his writings are technical, and even those of a general nature often appear somewhat obscure, but they contain a core of significance for everyone. This book aims at revealing this core to the reading public in language which is easily comprehensive and yet does not do violence to the subtlety and creative genius of one of the greatest modern psychologists.'

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, Biography, Academic, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Frieda Fordham was a psychiatric social worker and author.

Reviews

[Zidane Abdollahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب بدی براش شروع خوانش آثار یونگ و شناختی کلی از آثارش نیست؛ اما آنچنان مناسب هم نیست. ضعف بزرگش طبقه‌بندی نکردن مطالب است، کلیتی در ذهن پس از خوانش شکل نمی‌گیرد، بلکه خواننده تنها با ملغمه‌ای از تفکرات نویسنده آشنا شده است؛ این ضعف در کنار ایجاز گویی نویسنده بیشتر خود را نشان می‌دهد که کارِ دنبال‌کردن سیر مباحث را برای خواننده دشوارتر می‌کند.

[Zeynep T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uzun zamandır Carl Gustav Jung'un külliyatını ele alma niyetim vardı. Psikanaliz anlayışına hakim olabilmek için önce Frieda Fordham'ın kaleme aldığı ve Jung'un bir ön sözle onayladığı "Jung Psikolojisinin Ana Hatları"nı okudum.

Not: Yazacağımı yorum psikoloji eğitimi almamış bir okurun kitaptan çıkarımları olacak. Eleştirel çalışmalara da bakmak istiyorum. Araştırmaya devam ederim.

Analitik psikolojinin kurucusu, içe dönük, dışa dönük, kompleks, kolektif bilinçdışı, çağrışım testi gibi kavramları literatüre kazandıran Jung'un dünyasını tanımak için güzel bir başlangıç kitabı.

Benim için aydınlatıcı olduğu kadar bazen kafa karıştırıcıydı ve sürprizlerle doluydu. Ünlü analizcinin dinle ilgili görüşlerinden, ateizm hakkındaki eleştirel tavrından haberim yoktu. Öte yandan her çağda insanların bir mit yaratma ihtiyacında olması ve inancın zayıflaması ile doğabilecek tehlikeler hakkındaki görüşleri dikkatimi çekti. Yapay zeka denen saçmalığa tapınmaya başlamayız umarım. Bu kısmı daha derin araştırmak isterim.

Carl Gustav Jung'u ilginç hale getiren ruhun karanlık tarafını anlamada gösterdiği ilgi. Gölge (shadow-self) meselesi yine merakım cezbeden konulardan. Jung'un spiritualizme, dine, rüya yorumuna fazla önem verişi eleştiriliyor anladığım kadarıyla. Fakat karanlığı çözümlemede daha yumuşak bir tavrı var gibi.

Dikkatimi çeken başka bir kavram öz (self) idi. Öz bilinç ve bilinçdışını çevreleyen çember. Ego bilincin merkezi ise öz de bu bütünlüğün merkezi.

Doktorun Avrupa'nın dışındaki kültürleri incelemesi ve aldıklarını (yoga, altın çiçek vs.) kuramına katması dikkate değer. Goodreads bir yorumda nöropsikoloji karşısında Jung'un kuramının önemini yitirdiği eleştirisini gördüm. Bugün analitik psikoloji bize ne söylüyor? Her şey biyolojik süreçlerle açıklama eğilimi mi yaygın? Buna bakacağım.

Cinsiyetçi ve homofobik ifadeler vardı. Dediğim gibi eleştirel araştırmalara bakmak lazım. Kitabın çevirisi daha iyi olabilirdi.

[Maria Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

jung o sa-ti citesc opera cum mananc paine calda cu unt watch me.

[Cav · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Introduction to Jung's Psychology was an OK read, although the writing was pretty dry for the duration...

Author Frieda Fordham (born Winefride Rothwell; 23 February 1903 – 7 January 1988) was a psychiatric social worker, Jungian analyst and writer.

Frieda Fordham:


Unfortunately, and despite the book's short length, I found much of the writing here overly flat and boring. I am also admittedly a bit biased on the topic; as I find quite a lot of Jungian analyses questionable.

My main criticism of both Fruedian and Jungian analysis is one I heard leveled in an introductory psych course: It's not that they're wrong, but that they're "not even wrong."

Some of what is covered in the book includes:
• Archetypes
• Introverts/extroverts
• Religion
• Psychotherapy
• Dreams and their interpretations
• Psychology and education
• A brief biography of Carl Jung

***********************

Thankfully, this one was a short read that I got through in one sitting. I would have likely put it down if it were longer. Much of this esoteric Jungian jargon just does not resonate very well with me...
2.5 stars.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this introduction to analytical psychology early during my fascination with the topic. Frieda, along with her husband Michael, are known for their concentration on educational/developmental matters.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frieda Fordham's introductory text to the theories and life of Carl Jung strikes a nice balance between being short and accessible without compromising on the depth of explanation that the work of Jung deserves. She provides detailed yet concise descriptions of Jung's ideas related to psychological types, archetypes, the individual and collective unconscious, the role of religion in personal and societal life, the nature of dreams, and the process of psychotherapy. Furthermore, she also provides a brief biohraphy of the man, helping the reader to understand the context in which the ideas were shaped. It's not always simple reading but, then again, neither were Jung's beliefs. My only slight concern is that for certain ideas which are likely to be highly incompatible with the modern reader (e.g. synchronicity, alchemy), she does not apply significant critical analysis or help the reader to understand how such an intelligent man could come to believe in such (seemingly) irrational ideas. Still, a very good introduction for anybody who wants to learn more about Jung or analytical psychology. 7/10

[Onur şahin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap dediği şeyi gayet iyi yapıyor. Jung'un bakış açısını genel bir şekilde anlamak için güzel bir başlangıç kitabı bence. Daha önce Jung okumuş olmama rağmen bu kitap okuduklarimi genel olarak toparlamami sağladı.

Jung'un bakış açısına gelirsek bazı açılardan mantıklı bulsam da bazı düşünceleri benimle çok örtüşmüyor. Ancak doğru söylediğini düşündüğüm tek bir şey varsa o da bilinçli varlığımızın yanında bizi etkileyen ve bilinçli olarak fark edemediğimiz bir yanımız var ve bu yanımız fazla görmezden gelince kendini çeşitli yollarla bize gösteriyor (rüya veya nevroz gibi). Böyle bir şeyin varlığını fark etmek bana Stoacilik gibi akılcı felsefeleri karşı olan güvenini biraz azalttı açıkçası. Bilinçdışınin varlığını da dikkate alarak geliştirilen bir Stoaci bakış açısı varsa bu ilginç olurdu gibi geliyor bana.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible. Predictably dated.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fordham does a really good job at summarising Jung! Very interesting and clear and well thought out

[Ozan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jung psikolojisinin ana hatlarını oldukça başarılı bir şekilde ortaya koyduğu söylenebilir. Jung'dan sık sık alıntı yapışını beğendim. Jung'la tanışmak için iyi bir tercih olabilir.

[Emre Seymenoğlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jung'u okumadan önce giriş niteliğinde onun bakış açısını ve kuramına genel bir bakış olarak katkı sağlayacak, okuması kolay bir kitap.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise, accessible introduction to Jung's thought. Having read some of his work years ago and being deeply impressed by it, I found this book useful for reviewing and distilling Jung's unique outlook. Some portions of the book (for instance, its passing allusions to feminism and "primitive" peoples) are notably dated, and I found myself wondering a bit to what extent Jung's psychology is extricable from certain ideas that haven't aged well. But on the whole it seems likely that one can reconcile contemporary concerns and Jungian psychology. For instance, while we might find Jung's association of women and femininity with irrationality and the unconscious troubling if taken as good for all time, the crux of his argument there (concerning the anima/animus) rightly notes how social gender roles cause people to repress or deny parts of themselves not in keeping with their assumed gender identity, often with dysfunctional results. Indeed, Jung was arguably ahead of his time in proposing that not only do men and women have both "masculine" and "feminine" sides, but that both have deep value in terms of leading a well-integrated, fulfilling life. Even today there is much to salvage and use in Jung's theories, despite the sad fact that they are not quite as in vogue as those of his Freudian and Lacanian counterparts.

[Az · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frieda Fordham's introduction to Jung is a perfect concise basis on which to understand the psychology and associated philosophy of Carl Gustav Jung.

With a good overview of Jung's work hard to come across, I thoroughly recommend this as a prerequisite to anyone intending to read more into the subject.

[Ştefan Bolea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Naive and insignificant.

[Tugba Kilickaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch "dangerous method" after reading the book, well organised book on the works and perspective of Jung, easy to follow

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes Jung's writing can be more convoluted than it needs to be to explain his concepts. I like reading distillations of his theory by other people.

[Nasse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction. Provoked a lot of thoughts..

Would have gotten 5 starts with more focus on the ideas of Jung and not the man himself.

[Zimmermann Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitapta temel olarak Jung'un insanı her anlamda karşıtlarıyla yüzleştirerek sınıflandıran tarafına eğilinmiş. Özellikle erkek-kadın ve introvert-extrovert ayrımları çok keskin biçimde ele alınarak detaylıca betimlenmiş. Ancak Jung'un bu öğretileri ortaya koyarkenki motivasyonunun, bu karşıtlıklar arasındaki uçuruma dikkat çekmek olmadığını, aksine her birinin bir diğeri içerisinde eriyerek bütünleştiğini göstermek olduğunu hissettim kitabı okurken. Hatta bu olguların bu kadar net bir şekilde birbirinden ayrılarak ele alınması daha detaylı incelenebilmelerinin önünü açmış bence. Jung'u diğer psikoterapistlerden ayıran ve benim gözümdeki en değerli özelliklerinden biri de psikoloji ve spiritüalizmi bir potada eriterek yalnızca bilimin değil aynı zamanda içgüdülerinin de sesini dinleyen bir gezgin olması. Bu kitapta da Jung'un bu psişik tarafına az da olsa tanık oluyoruz.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Jungian psychology, "individuation" is a central topic. It's about finding and accepting yourself fully. More than that, it's about integrating even the dark/shameful parts of your personality instead of burying them deeply in your mind.
Usually guided by a therapist, you break free from certain beliefs and expectations that were never a right fit, but you felt compelled to conform to. You come to terms with who you are (meant to be). Then, you can finally make life choices that align with your values and well-being, using the gifts and talents that maybe you hadn't given much thought before. It's a deeply personal and empowering process, and, sometimes, even painful — your very own bildungsroman.
I think that's it, in a nutshell.

[Mike Leech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this clear overview of Jungs psychology that for me at least captures some of the essences of his thinking and theory. I am very much an amateur and have read Jung and commentaries only sporadically but I am inspired by this worldview and theory of human psyche in our being, striving and spirituality. I feel the sympathy and understanding of the writer and affinity to Jung's thinking and appreciated the clear and accessible presentation. Will be on my Christmas gift list for a few interested people!

[David Lai · Rating 3 out of 5]

A readable presentation of the rudiments of Jung's psychology. Fordham navigates well through a sea of phantom entities. Jung's attitude to the therapist-patient relationship seems to foreshadow that of Carl Rogers, but at first blush his views on anima and animus seem pretty silly, and lead to ridiculous statements about men's and women's intellectual abilities.

[Marie-Pier Bédard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ouvrage de vulgarisation de la psychologie analytique de Jung, qui semble-t-il n’était pas le meilleur pour exposer clairement ses méthodes et théories. Lecture vraiment facile que j’ai beaucoup aimé parce que ça résume bien les aspects importants de l’approche et aussi parce que l’auteure nous donne une biographie de Jung super intéressante.

[Nikolai · Rating 2 out of 5]

He had a few good philosophies, but the majority are obsolete now. A sort of Jordan Peterson type figure for the early 20th century with all the nonces about religion and Jesus Christ in all of us. This book discouraged me completely from finding out more about Jung's philosophy.

[no.stache.nietzsche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully read audiobook, and a very helpful, concise introduction to Jung's life and work that touches on all the top topics. Fordham doesn't go into much detail, but that's not what we're here for in an introduction- just need a springboard, and this does the job!

[Alyssa Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dense, quick read that gives insight on the incredible work of Carl Jung. The last chapter gives a succinct summary of Jung’s life. Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in psychology.

[Andrei Savu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction into Jung's ideas if you have no background on the topic. Made me very curious to read more of his work.

[David Belliveau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative

[Coffee & a Book Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Such a great introduction to Jung's work.

[Hanieh · Rating 5 out of 5]

متن کتاب بسیار روان و مثال ها بسیار کاربردی بود

[Yahya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jung'a dair psikolojiye okuma yapmak isteyenler için özet niteliğinde bir kitap. Jung psikolojisinin temel kavramları ana hatlarıyla açıklanmış. Dili ağır değil okunabilir seviyede.