Anima and animus

The anima and animus are a pair of dualistic, Jungian archetypes which form a syzygy, or union of opposing forces. Carl Jung described the animus as the unconscious masculine side of a woman, and the anima as the unconscious feminine side of a man, each transcending the personal psyche.^[1] They are considered animistic parts within the Self, with Jung viewing parts of the self as part of the infinite set of archetypes within the collective unconscious.^[2]

Anima and animus are described in analytical psychology and archetypal psychology, under the umbrella of transpersonal psychology.^[3] Modern Jungian clinical theory under these frameworks considers a syzygy-without-its-partner to be like yin without yang. The goal is to become integrated over time into a well-functioning whole, similar to positive psychology's understanding of a well-tuned personality through something like a Goldilocks principle.^[1] For men, this involves accepting eros, or desire for connection; for women, this means developing logos, or reason and rationality. A therapist's empathetic countertransference can reveal that logos and/or eros are in need of repair through a psychopomp guide to mediate between the unconscious and conscious of the identified patient's Self.

^ ^a ^b "The Archetypes of the Anima and Animus". Centre of Applied Jungian Studies. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
^ Jung, Carl (1971). "Phenomenology of the Self". In Campbell, Joseph (ed.). The Portable Jung. Penguin Books. pp. 145, 148–162. ISBN 978-0-14-015070-4.
^ Beebe, John (1988). "Primary Ambivalence Toward the Self". In Swartz-Salant, Nathan; Stein, Murray (eds.). The Borderline Personality in Analysis. The Chiron Clinical Series. Chiron Publications. p. 107. ISBN 0-933029-13-6. [A]nd dramatic behavior of the archetypes Jung named the anima and the animus. [..] so in Jung's vision of the psyche the anima/animus 'syzygy' of archetypes uses personal relations to achieve, finally, a bridge to the great transpersonal Self.

[:2-1] "The Archetypes of the Anima and Animus". Centre of Applied Jungian Studies. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

[phemSelf-2] Jung, Carl (1971). "Phenomenology of the Self". In Campbell, Joseph (ed.). The Portable Jung. Penguin Books. pp. 145, 148–162. ISBN 978-0-14-015070-4.

[DM-3] Beebe, John (1988). "Primary Ambivalence Toward the Self". In Swartz-Salant, Nathan; Stein, Murray (eds.). The Borderline Personality in Analysis. The Chiron Clinical Series. Chiron Publications. p. 107. ISBN 0-933029-13-6. [A]nd dramatic behavior of the archetypes Jung named the anima and the animus. [..] so in Jung's vision of the psyche the anima/animus 'syzygy' of archetypes uses personal relations to achieve, finally, a bridge to the great transpersonal Self.

[1]

[2]

[3]