Towards a Jungian Theory of the Ego

Description

Despite their prevalence and weight in many of his collected works and letters, Jung did not articulate a general theory of the ego and consciousness. Towards a Jungian Theory of the Ego examines the development of Jung’s concept of the ego as he expanded and revised this concept, from his earliest formulations about consciousness while a student, to his mature thoughts at the end of his life. Drawing on Ego Psychology as a theoretical framework, Evers-Fahey proposes that Jung uses the concept of ego in four distinct ways and that he developed and used his ego concept based on two discrete paradigms. These distinctions explain the confusion and ambiguity found when examining the development of Jung’s analytical psychology over his lifetime. This book provides an examination of ego development and ego defenses based on a unique Jungian standpoint, as well as discussion of the relationship between the ego and the Self and the ego and ‘the individuum’. Furthermore, the inclusion of a historical framework helps to place the development of these concepts in context. This book proposes a theory of ego psychology based on Jungian theory rather than traditional psychoanalytic theory, thereby filling a gap in the knowledge of Jungian theory. The book will be essential reading for academics and postgraduate students engaged in the study of Jungian psychology and psychoanalytic theory and will also be valued by those interested in Jung and ego psychology more generally. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of figures Acknowledgments 1 Introduction The ego in Jung’s works Reasons for lack of clarity Resolution of this problem The energic paradigm and the symbolic paradigm Historical and conceptual perspectives The historical perspective Conceptual perspective Ego psychology: an overview Ego psychology: a Jungian overview Towards a Jungian theory of the ego Comments on organization and scope of this work A note on terminology 2 The energic paradigm and the symbolic paradigm The energic paradigm Basis in 19th century science Science versus philosophy Characteristics of the energic paradigm Experimental theorists Medical and psychoanalytic theorists The symbolic paradigm Jung’s influences Comparing the two paradigms in practice 3 1896–1912: historical development Beginnings The Zofingia years Lecture 1: ‘The Border Zones of Exact Science’ (November 1896) Lecture 2: ‘Some Thoughts on Psychology’ Lecture 4: ‘Thoughts on the Nature and Value of Speculative Inquiry’ Lecture 5: ‘Thoughts on the Interpretation of Christianity, With Reference to the Theory of Albrecht Ritschl’ Summary of main points On the Psychology and Pathology of So-Called Occult Phenomena (1902) Hélène Preiswerk and the séances The séances Jung’s developing ego concept Critique of Jung’s ego concept in occult phenomena Burghölzli and the association experiment (1902–1910) The complex Ego-consciousness and defensive actions in the psyche Collaboration with Freud (1906–1912) ‘Psychoanalysis and Association Experiments’ (1906) ‘The Psychology of Dementia Praecox’ (1907) ‘The Theory of Psychoanalysis’ (lectures delivered at Fordham University, 1912) Clinical implications Ego-consciousness Ego-complex Autonomous complex 4 1912–1945: outer research and inner transformation Libido and the energic versus the symbolic paradigm Symbols of Transformation (CW 5) Libido theory Psychological Types (CW 6) The two libido tendencies The ego The development of the ego The individual Two Essays on Analytical Psychology (CW 7) ‘On the Psychology of the Unconscious’ (1943) ‘The Relations Between the Ego and the Unconscious’ (1935) Key ego concepts of this period Ego development Structural concept Adaptation concept A defense concept A Jungian theory of ego defense Defense against conscious perception Defense against feeling (the unconscious standpoint) Defense against integration The mechanisms of defense versus the mechanisms of individuation 5 1945–1961: later works Biographical background ‘A Commentary on The Secret of the Golden Flower ’ (1929) Developments in the role of consciousness and ego Alchemical studies (1938–1954) and Aion (1951) Mysterium Coniunctionis (1955–1956) The ego quaternity Implications for clinical practice Ego strength Access to unconscious standpoint The reactive ego standpoint The ego, individuation, and a way forward 6 Ego theory in Jung’s psychology Towards a Jungian theory of the ego Subjective ego Structural ego Developmental ego Cosmogonic ego Bibliography Index