Roncooper wrote:James,
Thanks for the input. What is the name for a person's complete personality in Jungian terms? I'm not up on his terminology.
( And ):
Andreas:
I don't know about the Jungian term but "experience" might be the word you are looking for.
Razz
The psyche... the soul, if only was so easy to analyze and pin down. Last time I checked epic works were written on the subject..
And consciousness, for me, means the immaterial.
Hey guys. Here is the lexicon link from the " Jung in the Weeds " thread Cindy has so thoughtfully supplied for folks interested in these definitions. Yes; " Personality " is listed as well as: Individuality, Persona, Experience, Personal Unconscious, and any other terminology that may be of assistance so that you may ascertain the meanings to your particular thoughts. I would suggest reading beyond ( Personality ):
http://www.psychceu.com/jung/sharplexicon.html
Personality.
Aspects of the soul as it functions in the world. (See also individuality.)
For the development of personality, differentiation from collective values, particularly those embodied in and adhered to by the persona, is essential.
A change from one milieu to another brings about a striking alteration of personality, and on each occasion a clearly defined character emerges that is noticeably different from the previous one. . . . The social character is oriented on the one hand by the expectations and demands of society, and on the other by the social aims and aspirations of the individual. The domestic character is, as a rule, moulded by emotional demands and an easy-going acquiescence for the sake of comfort and convenience; when it frequently happens that men who in public life are extremely energetic, spirited, obstinate, wilful and ruthless appear good-natured, mild, compliant, even weak, when at home and in the bosom of the family. Which is the true character, the real personality? . . .
. . . . In my view the answer to the above question should be that such a man has no real character at all: he is not individual but collective, the plaything of circumstance and general expectations. Were he individual, he would have the same character despite the variation of attitude. He would not be identical with the attitude of the moment, and he neither would nor could prevent his individuality from expressing itself just as clearly in one state as in another.["Definitions," CW 6, pars. 798f.]
( On a personal note; every time I read these I am so humbly reminded of how far I've yet to go before I am even remotely close to being truly informed on this. I am deep in the learning stage in this area ) Also we may be mixing eastern and western understandings or definitions of consciousness; but concerning the distinctions I myself don't really feel qualified to make an assessment on this. Perhaps Clemsy or again Cindy might be better able to advise.
Consciousness.
The function or activity which maintains the relation of psychic contents to the ego; distinguished conceptually from the psyche, which encompasses both consciousness and the unconscious. (See also opposites.)
There is no consciousness without discrimination of opposites.["Psychological Aspects of the Mother Archetype," CW 9i, par. 178.]
There are two distinct ways in which consciousness arises. The one is a moment of high emotional tension, comparable to the scene in Parsifal where the hero, at the very moment of greatest temptation, suddenly realizes the meaning of Amfortas' wound. The other is a state of contemplation, in which ideas pass before the mind like dream-images. Suddenly there is a flash of association between two apparently disconnected and widely separated ideas, and this has the effect of releasing a latent tension. Such a moment often works like a revelation. In every case it seems to be the discharge of energy-tension, whether external or internal, which produces consciousness.["Analytical Psychology and Education," CW 17, par. 207.]
In Jung's view of the psyche, individual consciousness is a superstructure based on, and arising out of, the unconscious.
Consciousness does not create itself-it wells up from unknown depths. In childhood it awakens gradually, and all through life it wakes each morning out of the depths of sleep from an unconscious condition. It is like a child that is born daily out of the primordial womb of the unconscious. . . . It is not only influenced by the unconscious but continually emerges out of it in the form of numberless spontaneous ideas and sudden flashes of thought.["The Psychology of Eastern Meditation," CW 11, par. 935.]
Ron you may find this site very helpful if you have not spent any time there. As Andreas could probably verify; the " Weeds " thread is pretty amazing.
( BTW Ron and Andreas; I just happen to remember this link on another thread you may or may not be interested in concerning the " Philosopher's Stone ". Cindy and I were discussing " Alchemy " and it came up. )
http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html
Here is what she mentions.
Cindy:
So you know, James, Jung's own intense study of Alchemy led him to say that the spiritual alchemists were actually the first "depth psychologists." Their quest for The Philosopher's Stone had influence on his conceptualizations of individuation and Self.
( See what you think. )