Carl G. Jung introduced the term of Individuation as a process of
man's potential, psychic development during the second half of life into a
unique and complex personality.
He realised that in order to advance our understanding of the psyche; we
would have to view it within an interdisciplinary context.
The human psyche is a complex system, and its dynamics is virtually
unpredictable.
Three principle parts of the human psyche are consciousness,
the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious.
The unconscious contains not only all the forgotten material of the
individual's own past, but also all the inherited behaviour. The unconscious
contains all the fantasy combinations, which in the course of time and under
suitable conditions will enter the light of consciousness. It is highly
extensive, synthesis components into new combinations that are synergetic (they
exceed the sum of the parts). These combinations are not predictable, so they
challenge the limitations of consciousness.
Consciousness and the unconscious form a complementary pair of opposites
similar to order and chaos in the chaos theory. The relations between
consciousness and the unconscious are regulated by the movement of psychic
energy.
Using the language of the chaos theory collaboration between consciousness
and the unconscious is through loop of negative and positive feedback.
Each new content that comes up from the unconscious is altered in its basis
nature by being partly integrated into the conscious mind.
The unconscious through some symptoms like no tangible mood or depression,
dull discontent, a feeling of resistance, boredom or emptiness gives signals for
some changes in our psyche. They are positive feedback.
Consciousness is trying to oppose or disregard these signals through negative
feedback.
If the unconscious is continuously suppressed it could be serious
consequences like stagnation or one-sided character.
But when consciousness allows some flow of energy from unconscious it
activates some images and raises them from unconscious.
Sometimes the creative activity of the psyche transforms the chaos of the
collective unconscious contents into such images as appear in dreams, fantasies,
visions, a every variety of creative art.
Jung believed that cooperation between consciousness and the unconscious is
essential to humankind's evolution.
Stage I - Preparation
Tension, conflict, confusion and suffering characterise our descent into the
unconscious.
Entering into a state of chaos must always be the first step in any process
of creation, which is known as individuation in the creation of one's Self.
We create the new by bringing order of chaos.
When our ego becomes enmeshed in unconscious dynamics, experiences
instability. The instability is characteristic feature for complex system
approaching the bifurcation point. Some fluctuations in system combine
through positive feedback loops, becoming strong enough to shatter any
pre-existing organisation. At this point the self-organising system reaches
levels of complexity at which it spontaneous reorganise into new and complex
structure that exhibits novel features.
Stage II - Incubation
The process of individuation similar to process of creativity usually goes
underground for a while to unconscious. We can call this stage - incubation. It
has often been thought the most creative part of the entire process. The
unconscious manipulates those wholes to produce new constructions, new patterns.
Free from rational directions, ideas can combine and pursue each other every
which way. This uncontrolled state of mind can be described by chaotic
process which is attracted to some states - attractors. Jung suggested that
within us we have images, which come from our instincts and become powerful
forces of attractions. He called these images - archetypes - repetition of
similar experiences and forms. There are as many archetypes as there typical
situations in life.
During the second half of life, the ego is affected by the shadow and
the anima/animus archetypes. The shadow represents everything that
has been repressed or gone recognised. It contains anger and sexuality, but also
joy, spontaneity and creative fires.
The anima is personification of all feminine psychological tendencies in
man's psyche, where the animus is the male personification of the
unconscious in woman.
According to Jung, synchronistic events are associated with the archetypes.
He suggests that they are often generated by heightened emotions. Emotions lower
threshold of consciousness while strengthening the unconscious. Synchronicity
pushes us toward individuation by speaking to us in ways we uniquely
understand.
Stage III - Illumination
When a conflict situation arises, the corresponding archetypes will be formed
in the unconscious. Since the archetype posses a specific energy, it will
attract to itself the contents of consciousness - conscious ideas that become
capable of conscious realisation.
It felt as an illumination.
The insurgence of the shadow is part of corrective effort made by self to
bring personality back into balance. The positive function of the anima occurs
when a man take seriously the feelings, moods, expectations, and fantasies and
when he fixes them is writing, painting, sculpture or musical composition. The
positive side of the animus can personify an enterprising spirit, courage,
truthfulness, and the highest form, spiritual insights.
Stage IV - Self -Realisation
The last station on the path of individuation is Self-realisation. It leads
the individual to know himself for what he naturally is, as distinguished from
what he would like to be.
One of the highest path is creativity - man's tendency to actualise himself,
to become his potentialities.
The more I know myself, the more of my potential I can incarnate and the
richer my experience of life.
Maslow speaks of creativity as a "universal heritage of every human". The
individual who gains mental health as he goes through the developmental process
exhibits increasing creativeness. Creativity transforms both the creator,
through the personal experiences of the process, and others through the impact
of new knowledge and innovative artifacts.
Verbal creativity, as distinct from non-verbal creativity, is a most
important component in the process of individuation. It is important to test out
our thoughts and feelings with others.
Summary:
The individuation is a complex, non-linear, and dynamic process that
transforms the chaos of the collective unconscious contents into order in
consciousness.
Or
The Individuation is a spiral, repeated pattern of becoming conscious of the
presence of various archetypes, separating them out from the unconscious, and
the reintegrating them into the conscious psyche.
Through this process we experience an enrichment of consciousness, new
growth, a new level of being, new interest and creativity. We become more
complex, holistic, adaptable, open and
sensitive.
Jung states:
Man becomes whole when and only when the process of individuation is
complete, then the conscious and unconscious have learned to live at peace and
to complement one another.
Biography:
Jung, C. G., (1933). Modern Man in Search of a Soul, A Harvest Book,
Harcourt Inc. First published 1933
Jung, C.G., (1971) The Portable Jung, Penguin Book
Maslow, A.H. (1962) Toward a Psychology of Being, Princeton: D.Van
Nostrand
Prigogine, I., & Stengers, I. (1984). Order out of Chaos, Man's new
dialogue with nature, New York: Bantam
Von Franz, M.L. (1968). The Process of Individuation, Part 3, Man and
Symbols, Laurel