<p> This dissertation explores the Black Madonna as the archetypal center of the American cultural complex around homophobia. The dissertation is designed to: (a) present an approach to Jungian concepts informed by complexity theory and transdisciplinarity; (b) integrate the unconscious in research, by honoring the feminine archetype in theory and methodology; (c) extend analytical psychology to the collective level through an exploration of archetype and the evolution of consciousness and culture; (d) detail the American cultural complex around homophobia; and (e) engage the <i>religious function</i> through the production of a meaningful, hermeneutic exploration of consciousness and cultural transformation. </p><p> The research question guiding this dissertation is as follows: through the irruptions of the American cultural complex around homophobia, how has the dominant culture&rsquo;s unconscious, collective projection of the Black Madonna, symbolically embodied by gay men, constellated the transcendent function, supporting the emergence of an integral structure of consciousness and a partnership model of culture? </p><p> Several theoretical perspectives (Jungian and post-Jungian thought, complexity theory, Gebser&rsquo;s structures of consciousness, Eisler&rsquo;s Cultural Transformation theory, and Singer&rsquo;s theory of the cultural complex) provide an integrated framework. The research is guided by a melding of approaches and methods, including transdisciplinarity, hermeneutics, and amplification. </p><p> The dark feminine archetype has been symbolically embodied by gay men throughout the course of the American struggle for gay rights. As the dominant culture is better able to relate to gay men, it may likewise better relate to the dark feminine archetype, imagined herein as the Black Madonna. Incremental shifts in homophobic attitudes seem to emerge through this relation to the Other and are indicative of evolved consciousness. Ongoing retraction of homophobic attitudes may help to move the culture towards an integral structure of consciousness and partnership model of culture, the unfolding of the Black Madonna archetype. </p><p>

<p> Over the past five years, American public opinion on homosexuality has rapidly shifted in a more positive direction. Its subjugation exemplifies how an intimate and singular topic can be used to ignite and potentially misguide the American people, resulting in violent demonstration and even death. Although public opinion has shifted towards a greater acceptance of homosexuality, viewpoints are still very polarized. In addition to the available literature, elements from the complete data set of the General Social Survey (1972&ndash;2014) were analyzed to better understand this polarization that persists. Subject-specific variables concerning homosexuality were extrapolated and simple Ordinary Least Squares regression models were tested using STATA version SE 12.1. The evidence gathered supports this thesis&rsquo; assertion that Snyder&rsquo;s theory of hope, when applied to the topic of homosexuality, provides a uniquely useful and alternative lens through which to explain the polarization of current public opinion about homosexuality in America.</p><p>