Question

According to Jung, why are archetypes important and what purpose do they serve?

Answer 1

According to Jung, archetypes are highly developed elements of the collective unconscious. Archetypes are symbols of the primitive past and are universal symbols depicted through literature and art. According to Jung, archetypes serve to organize, direct and inform human thought and behaviour. Jung focused on four main archetypes, namely, the persona, shadow, anima/animus and the self, all of which serve different functions. For instance, the shadow is the darker side of ourselves but is the source of both our creative and destructive energies..