A good old-fashioned Jungian article showed up at Good Therapy the other day, and since I tend to think of complexes as a kind of subpersonality, I found it useful - although none of the information is new to readers of Jung's book.
We Don’t Have Complexes; They Have Us
June 18th, 2010By Dr. Joshua M. Simmons, Psy.D., Jungian Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor
Jungian psychology has had a significant impact on the way that people think about themselves and others. Whether it is Jung’s classification of extroverts and introverts or his study of the collective unconscious, core elements of his thinking have found their way into the popular culture. Of Jung’s vast body of work, his use of the word “complex” is best known by the general public. After all, many people at one time or another have spoken about or heard of someone refer to an “inferiority complex” or an “authority complex.” Others may have a vague idea that there are certain subjects which, when confronted with, drive them into a frenzied state. As Jung notes, in actuality, we don’t have complexes; they have us.
A complex is a powerful unconscious emotional preoccupation. It is a painful subject area in the psyche which, when activated, acts autonomously, arbitrarily, and usually, contrary to the wishes of our conscious selves. When a complex erupts, the unity of consciousness is disrupted. That is, we are often surprised at who we become and what we do when we are in the midst of a complex. It is like being possessed by an alien form. In extreme cases, reality is distorted, bodies exhibit signs of stress and agitation, and it is difficult or impossible to achieve our goals in the moment. In less severe cases, we casually misspeak and disclose inappropriate thoughts, lose our physical coordination, or forget basic pieces of information about ourselves and others. As Jung notes, the complex pierces through one’s persona and lodges itself into the dark layer of the unconscious. It is like a split off personality that emerges rather suddenly from the depths and acts as “an animated foreign body.”
The term “complex” was actually first coined by German psychiatrist Theodor Ziehen in 1898. Jung expanded the idea of complexes (or what he originally referred to as “feeling toned complex of ideas”) in the early 20th century while working at the Burgholzli mental hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. In his attempt to understand mental associations, he utilized word-association tests in which individuals were given a word and then asked to respond as quickly as possible with the first idea that came into their mind. Individuals who participated in the experiment were timed and Jung discovered that certain words produced longer reaction times than others. In other cases, individuals laughed, coughed, or fidgeted in response to the stimulus word. Some could not even respond at all or remember their previously given answers.
Jung postulated that interference in responding was beyond the control of the will. It was, in fact, an unconscious emotional experience erupting, usually the result of trauma and/or emotional shock. As Jolan Jacobi notes, complexes do not necessarily imply inferiority of the individual who has them; they merely indicate that “something ununited, unassimilable, conflicting exists…a hindrance…to fresh successes.”
Complexes are essentially unfinished business; business that can be worked through thoughtfully or acted out in the world. But how? As with any part of the psyche which is unknown, we must begin to develop a relationship to it. This entails becoming increasingly mindful of situations and subjects which cause us to emotionally unravel and lose our conscious minds. During these moments, we must carefully examine our thoughts and feelings and investigate the origins of them. We must also explore the conscious and unconscious ways in which we continue to perpetrate our complexes against ourselves. It is not uncommon for individuals to repeatedly end up in relationships and situations which resemble their early traumas and subsequently, elicit their complexes. Take note of who you choose to associate with and the situations which often cause you pain and regret.
If you feel stuck, look to your dreams. Complexes usually appear quite vividly in dreams. Examine the characteristics of the figures who appear and the specific relational dynamics between them. You will likely notice a pattern.
Jung once likened complexes to psychic hobgoblins that delighted in crashing through houses in the darkest hours of the night. Indeed, complexes can be monstrous and when one surfaces, our reality can be turned on its head. In the end, taming these impish parts of ourselves requires significant training and is only possible when we become increasingly mindful of the present and curious about our past.
Tags:
No comments:
Post a Comment