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With individuation Jung distinguished his psychology from Freud and others. Jung explained individuation in general terms, and in terms of specific schema. According to the outline of general terms there is an experience of the self that initiates the process of conscious individuation. Self is the totality of consciousness and the unconscious. One example of individuation according to other schema is the study of psychological type. Psychological type is the “way of individuation” when there is a rotation through the functions over a lifetime. A second example of schema is found in alchemy. Jung affirmed the outline of the individuation process of unaware speculative writers of an undeveloped science. A third example of unconscious production of the individuation process Jung found in unsolicited mandala-like drawings of patients, especially in times of psychological distress. Fourth, in the collected letters of Jung, I have found 58 references to individuation in the form of instruction to analysands, doctors and students.
Jung explains individuation as the process of becoming, as every living thing, exactly what one is. Through adaptation in life the individual develops specializations to enter work and to access social life. With significant adjustment the person can begin to consider their own interests. Jung’s writings, particularly in the letters. offer examples of individuation occurring when a moment of insight is followed by conscious action to support individual purpose. If the process of individuation upsets an existing order, then the process of analytical psychology could alleviate the stress of transition. If, on the other hand, life smoothly flowed with a natural process, then analytical psychology could accelerate individuation. Individuation means simultaneously serving the collective and acting in accord with one’s inner nature.
Our review includes individuation in a movie and in a fairy tale. The aim of this course is to strengthen the concept of individuation in the mind of each participant so that each may see various examples of individuation in other cultural works of literature and life stories. The therapist and those engaged in therapy and analysis may have a means to assess the quality of treatment. Finally, the understanding of one concept of Jungian psychology brings the participant into connection with the whole of Jung’s work, its terminology, and potentially all other Jungian concepts.
