The Influences of C.G. Jung

The Influences of C.G. Jung

Carl Gustav Jung was influenced by literature, symbolism, religion, and the occult From a very young age. Jung's influencs remained with him as he became a doctor of medicine and a psychological theorist. The philosophical, the supernatural, the symbolic, the religious, and the occult all influenced Jung's area of psychological expertise, making Jung's psychology not only unique to Jung, but also pioneering in the field of general psychoanalysis.

In Ernest Gallo's article "Synchronicity and the Archetypes. (Carl Jung's Doctrines)", Gallo cites that Jung was "deeply drawn to the occult" (Gallo, 1994). Jung's younger cousin, Helen Preiswerk, had the ability to actually shatter knives in a drawer "with a loud bang" (Gallo, 1994). This and other similar cases caused Jung to write his medical dissertation about occult phenomena using this cousin as his subject. Gallo continues by citing that "while Jung was arguing with Freud about psychic phenomena, a loud noise emanated from a bookcase; Jung predicted that it would be repeated and was highly impressed when this portentous prediction came true." (Gallo, 1994). Jung also reported that "he saw the vision of a face half buried in the pillow next to him" (Gallo, 1994). Despite Jung's lack of doubt toward these experiences, Gallo says that "Jung was far more than a simple occultist." (Gallo, 1994), and that Jung was "engagingly skeptical about his wilder speculations" (Gallo, 1994).

The son of a Protestant Minister, Jung also had ties to western religion. Ties that showed themselves in his beliefs and writings (Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia). Jung cited the importance of the unconscious as a religious channel in his psycho...

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Gallo, Ernest (Summer 1994). Synchronicity and the Archetypes. (Carl Jung's Doctrines). Skeptical Inquirer, pp. 396 - 404.

Jung, Carl G., & von Franz, M.-L. (1964). Man and his Symbols. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc.

Kast, Verena (1996). The process of individuation. Retrieved June 17, 1997 from the World Wide Web: http://www.jungnet.org/cgibin/dispatch

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