What is Emotional conflict according to C. G. Jung?
According to Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, emotional conflict refers to the psychological tension and struggle that arises from the conflicting aspects of an individual’s personality and their unconscious desires or motivations. Jung believed that the human psyche consists of different parts, including the conscious and unconscious mind, and that conflicts arise when these different parts come into opposition with one another.
Jung proposed the concept of the personal unconscious, which contains repressed or forgotten thoughts, memories, and experiences that have a significant impact on an individual’s behavior and emotions. Additionally, he introduced the idea of the collective unconscious, which comprises universal, inherited, and shared psychological patterns or archetypes that influence human behavior across cultures and time.
Emotional conflicts, according to Jung, often stem from the tension between an individual’s conscious attitudes and beliefs and the repressed or unconscious aspects of their personality. These conflicts can manifest in various ways, such as contradictory emotions, unexplained mood swings, or the emergence of irrational or impulsive behavior.
Jung believed that resolving emotional conflicts required the process of individuation, which involves bringing the conscious and unconscious aspects of one’s personality into harmony and balance. This process often entails exploring and integrating the unconscious elements through techniques such as dream analysis, active imagination, and the exploration of personal symbols and archetypes.
By addressing and working through emotional conflicts, individuals can achieve a greater sense of wholeness and self-awareness, leading to personal growth and psychological well-being.
Shervan K Shahhian