What Freudians can learn from Jung.

Abstract

Noting that there has been an increasing sharing of ideas between psychoanalysts and analytical psychologists within the past decade, the authors, all Jungian analysts, survey Jung's clinical theory in an effort to identify areas where psychoanalytic clinicians might find Jung's concepts helpful. They discuss Jung's approach to the dream, his understanding of psychotherapy as a dialectical procedure, and the theory of complexes and archetypes. They also review how Jung's notions of the Self and individuation are used in contemporary Jungian practice. A dream of a man in his mid-30s is presented to illustrate how these formulations can facilitate understanding of the patient and the analytic process.

Healing through mythology

“…When applying this constructivist view of analysis specifically to mythology, and more specifically to The Odyssey, the gods, goddesses, monsters and, creatures all represent parts of Odysseus' personality. In an analytical understanding of the psyche, the myth in parallel fashion represents the analysand's psychic material (Beebe, Cambray & Kirch, 2001;Glasser, 1994;Leader, 2009;Lowery, 1970). Studying mythology and its psychological meanings amplifies the psychic process allowing for deeper understanding of psychological struggles.…”

“…Each test of the hero or heroine can give insight into the nature of the individuation process (Beebe, Cambray & Kirch, 2001;Glasser, 1994;Leader, 2009). The Odyssey is one such symbolic example of the psyches journey to individuation (Leader, 2009).…”

“…All myths possess the ability to amplify the internal turmoil that is transpiring within the psyche as it moves toward individuation (Beebe, Cambray & Kirch, 2001). The numerous stories of heroes and heroines are no exception.…”

The Handbook of Jungian Psychology: Theory, Practice and Applications, edited by Papadopoulos, Renos K.

“…I wish that more papers relevant to the Jungian corpus were published in so‐called ‘mainstream’ psychoanalytic journals. I was pleased to have invited Beebe, Cambray, and Kirsch (2001) in the journal that I edit to tell Freudians what they can learn from Jung. There needs to be more of this kind of exchange.…”

Book reviews

“…Although the Times journalist, not a regular book reviewer, also maintained that ‘it is unlikely that another biography can ever equal this in its scrupulousness and the depth of its research’, she cooked up the attention‐grabbing opening sentence based on her own personal reactions to Bair's narrative, and proceeded without known professional qualifications to concoct the shockingly dismissive second sentence. One wishes, for example, she had read the admirable 2001 article in a solid psychoanalytic journal on ‘What Freudians can learn from Jung’ (Beebe et al 2001) but it is doubtful that any one such piece would be enough to turn the general tide in a fresh direction. It ought to go without saying, but it cannot, that the biographical evidence in Bair's book does not sustain the idea that Jung was any more egotistical than other creative figurers in the history of ideas, or especially cruel and ill‐mannered to his family.…”