Carl Jung Course: His Life and Work

Psychology. Explore the human mind.

COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses

We are now delivering courses online and in-person. Please check the delivery format of each class before enrolling.

Please note that course materials (excluding prescribed texts) are shared electronically within 48 hours of course commencement. Printing is not available.

Carl Jung is regarded as one of the foremost thinkers of the Twentieth Century introducing such concepts as extraversion and introversion, the collective unconscious and archetypes into everyday discourse.

During this course, we will trace the significant life experiences of Carl Jung which forged his theoretical understanding thereby introducing his most important psychological concepts.

Content

This course covers the following topics:

Background

• The influences of childhood and family background on Jung’s psychology
• Jung’s professional activities
• The split with Freud
• Jung’s "descent into the unconscious"

The structure of personality I

• The psyche
• Consciousness and the ego
• The personal unconscious
• The collective unconscious and the archetypes
• Complexes

The structure of personality II

• Psychological types
• The attitudes of Extraversion and Introversion
• The functions of sensation, intuition, thinking and feeling
• Dealing with the inferior function

The dynamics and development of personality

• Libido as life energy
• The canalisation of psychic energy
• The progression and regression of libido
• The concept of Individuation
• The stages of life

Ways and means

• Dream psychology
• Jung’s use of alchemical symbolism
• The place of symbols in psychic life
• Synchronicity

Post-jungian developments

• The schools within Jungian Psychology
• Applications to psychotherapy
• Contemporary archetype theory

Intended audience

Suitable for anyone interested in Jung’s psychology as an aid to their personal understanding and self-help, as well as understanding others' behaviour and thought forms. It is also suitable for those who have already completed a course on Jung’s psychology, for example the Jung and Dreams Course.

Delivery style

Delivered as an interactive lecture with open and structured discussion.