Jung and Freud’s Theory of the Unconscious Essay

Jung’s theory of the unconscious sprang from the influence of disassociationist psychology, whereby â€Å"ideas and images tend to combine into complexes† that represent a measure of one’s personality. Thus, in his 1902 work, Jung theorized that the phenomenon called somnambulism might be an attempt of a future personality to break through. In 1935, Jung posited the existence of the collective unconscious, which represents complexes that exist apart from people’s intentions (Astor, 2002). Freud placed too much emphasis on the aspects of sexual and aggressive drives in his theory of the unconscious (Anzieu, 1986). On the other hand, Jung believed that the human unconscious is motivated by higher drives than these two, such as an inherent desire to seek self-development and religious fulfillment. Moreover, Jung deviated from Freud’s theory of the unconscious by positing that each person has a unique unconscious and that such unconscious may be accessed by a person voluntarily (Anzieu, 1986). Moreover, Jung carried his theory of the unconscious further by theorizing about the collective unconscious, which is composed of a universal set of ideas that belong to the entire human race, which passed from one generation to the next. Thus, Jung believed that a person’s personality is not only influenced by personal factors, but also by cultural influences that help build his personality (The New York Association for Analytical Psychology, 2008). Freud would have treated Mary Jones through his process called psychoanalysis, or simply, the â€Å"talking-cure. † Freud believed that the psychological problems that appear to underlie Mary Jones’ manifestations could be solved by talking about them. Psychoanalysis consists in the patient’s narration of his thoughts and feelings to the therapist. Meanwhile, the therapist is supposed to listen carefully to the client, and from the client’s narration formulate his analysis and help the client achieve some insight into the unresolved conflicts of the client, which are only embedded in the unconscious (Anzieu, 1986). On the other hand, since Jungian analysis aims to form a strong relationship between the conscious and the unconscious, Jung would not confine the process to a mere discussion of the patient’s thoughts and feelings. Jung believed that the unconscious is a â€Å"wellspring of psychic energy and healing;† thus, he would utilize images and symbols designed to spontaneously unlock the patient’s fantasies and dreams. These images help in the exploration of new possibilities and achievement of personal transformation (The New York Association for Analytical Psychology, 2008). Jung places more emphasis n the process that occurs during the therapy sessions, rather than the content of the therapy. Jungian analysis aims to help the patient achieve an understanding and awareness of the unconscious and thereby give relief to the patient’s symptoms (The New York Association for Analytical Psychology, 2008). The differences in the treatment styles of Jung and Freud illustrate the following differences in their views of the unconscious: