Library Friday 6.25.21

Definitions and core concepts of psychological adulthood: affect, initiation, individuation, transcendent function

Definitions 

Affect

General psychology: physical gestures and manifestations of emotion discernible through observation.

In depth psychology:

Most generally, the experienced (or observed) phenomenon of heightened emotion or the psychological energy of libido. An indicator that one or more of our unconscious contents or clusters of content (called complexes) are activated and the emotional affects are marked by physical symptoms and intensity in thinking. (Sharp, 1991.)

Jung (1939/1969) makes a good case for why it’s a good idea for us to form a habitual practice of tuning-in to images and nudges from the unconscious— through whatever ways we rend to receive them, eg. spontaneous images, dream, synchronicity, physical manifestations—when he says on affect:

“The autonomy of the unconscious begins where emotions are generated. Emotions are instinctive, involuntary reactions which upset the natural order of the unconscious. In a state of intense affect a trait of character sometimes appears which is strange even to the person concerned, or hidden contents [previously unknown consciously] may irrupt involuntarily….

So long as the unconscious is in a dormant condition, it seems as if there were absolutely nothing [“down there”] in this hidden region. Hence we are continually surprised when something unknown suddenly appears ‘from nowhere’.”

Initiation

In general parlance (composite of major dictionaries):

1) The process of being formally accepted as a member of a group 2) A ceremony, ritual or series of actions that makes a person a member of a group 3) The act of starting something, the beginning of something

In cultural anthropology

A transformation ritual in which an individual is separated from the group to experience a transformative ordeal, then return to reincorporate with the group bringing knowledge, wisdom, a boon or gift from the experience. Some initiates complete the entire process and return to reincorporate. Other initiates are lost, perish in the wilderness, or perhaps continue engagement with an ordeal of unknown duration. Still others see, avoid and refuse to undergo initiation at all despite the suffering that results both within the group and personally. [We witness the latter often among un-initiated, though “successful” public figures intensely resistant and defensive at even the idea of the unconscious/unknown psyche.] As Jung noted, not everyone individuates or rises to its challenges. (Thresholds of Initiation, Joseph Henderson, 2005; The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell, 1968).

In depth psychology

The metaphorical application of cultural transformation rituals to describe and work with psychological growth through ordeal or crises—which of course occur and bring individuals in to psychotherapy. These crisis-points also naturally show up in the story-rich context of news and lives of news-figures. As with initiation in cultural anthropology, the initiate may or may not complete even one entire initiatory ordeal. Many “thresholds” for them appear and reappear over the life cycle. In this individual psycho-dynamic view the initiate:

1) enters or is thrust into separatio or separation from the familiar, known sense of self.

As Jungian Marion Woodman points out, nobody gets up one morning and says, “Hey, I’m going into the abyss to become a deeper, more whole person today. No! Most of us have to be dragged into it, like pigs to the slaughter.” Even “positive” initiations, like falling in love or becoming a parent, are terrifying in that they evoke and force us to engage with aspects of ourselves we did not know existed… while it feels like death to the self we thought we knew;

2) in this dissolved state of the familiar (small “s”) ego self, we encounter and engage with heretofore unknown, unclaimed, usually part-undesired and part-desired shadow aspects of the self we have known. (As defined below) this ultimately happens by the transcendent function of allowing and holding the tension of opposition — between both our conscious self-lives as we have known them and attending to the increasingly “noisy” unconscious Self aspects demanding to be heard; and

3) re-integrates, becomes whole again, having claimed and incorporated the previously unknown and disallowed aspects into an expanded, more conscious self engage with the Self. Henderson, J. L. (2005.) Thresholds of initiation. Willmette, IL: Chiron.

In depth psychology and the deep-biography model there are stages of initiatory crisis in contemporary life that include a “fall”/humbling, engagement with the shadow, archetypal patterns and influences, and how and whether there is integration or “re-incorporation” with a “story for one’s people”.

Individuation

In general parlance: (composite of major dictionaries)

1) development of the individual from the universal 2) determination of the individual in the general 3) the process by which individuals in society become differentiated from one another 4) the state of being differentiated, individuality

In depth psychology:

The process of becoming fully oneself.

“A process of psychological differentiation, having for it goal the development of the individual personality… A process informed by the archetypal idea of wholeness which in turn depends on a vital relationship between ego and unconscious (soul/psyche). The aim is not to overcome one’s personal psychology or to become “perfect,” but to become familiar with it… The process of individuation, consciously pursued, leads to the realization of the Self as a psychic reality greater than the ego… In Jung’s view, no one is ever completely individuated (for the unconscious soul has limitless contents, it is unconscious). While the goal is wholeness and a healthy working relationship with the Self, the true value of indivituaion is what happens along the way (eg. creative libido, energetic engagement with Self, other and culture.) —Sharp, D. (1991). C. G. Jung Lexicon: A primer of terms and concepts. Toronto, Canada: Inner City Books. (pp. 67-69.)

Transcendent function and holding tension of the opposites

This piece is long, but worthwhile. It’s an immensely thorough explanation, discussion and integration (complete with citations from throughout the Collected Works) of many of Jung’s ideas and applications of his foundational concept of the transcendent function

https://jungiancenter.org/jung-on-the-transcendent-function/

Author Sue Mehrthens, PhD, also provides helpful contexts and reasons this essential work is especially difficult amid norms and expectations of contemporary Western culture that devalues or even dismisses the existence of inner life, much less attending to it.

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Other References

Jung, C. G. (1960). The transcendent function. The structure and dynamics of the psyche. In H. Read, M. Fordham, G. Adler, and W. McGuire (Eds.) The collected works of C. G,. Jung (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (2nd ed., Vol. 8, pp 387-403). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1916.)

Jung, C. G. (1966). The stages of life. The structure and dynamics of the psyche. In H. Read, M. Fordham, G. Adler, and W. McGuire (Eds.) The collected works of C. G,. Jung (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (2nd ed., Vol. 8, pp 387-403). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1930.)

Jung, C. G. (1969). Conscious, unconscious, and individuation. The archetypes and the collective unconscious.In H. Read, M. Fordham, G. Adler, and W. McGuire (Eds.) The collected works of C. G,. Jung (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.) (2nd ed., Vol. 8, pp 387-403). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1939.)

Hollis, J. (1998). Untitled article. [Review of the book, Romancing the shadow: Illuminating the dark side of the soul, by C. Zweig & S. Wolf.] Psychological Perspectives: A Semiannual Journal of Jungian Thought, 37, 140-141.

Hollis, J. (2006). Finding meaning in the second half of life: How to finally, really grow up. New York, NY: Gotham Books.

Woodman, M. (2003). The crown of age: The rewards of conscious aging. [CD]. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.