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The Shaman archetype : a contemporary Jungian examination

Since Jung’s first allusions to it, the shaman “archetype” has occupied a place of considerable importance in Jungian discourse. The trajectory of this thesis began with Guggenbuhl-Craig’s (1999) view that a “shaman archetype” must be present in Jungian analysts for them to be good at their craft. To explicate the nature and characteristics of this archetype, this thesis examined both aspects of the phrase “shaman archetype”. It was necessary to examine Jung’s classical view of archetypes and certain critiques emerged. It was concluded, after investigation, that an emergent/developmental model of archetype was supported most by current research findings. This led to a working model of archetype which enabled further exploration of the “shaman archetype” question. The second part of the thesis applied this emergent /developmental model of the archetype to Siberian shamanism by seeing if there was evidence that its central characteristic of the “pre-initiatory illness” could be explained developmentally. It was concluded that Jungian analysts need the same kind of personality structure to be able to work with and use the somatic countertransference as a psychotherapeutic tool. A comparison and contrast of these ideas with contemporary uses of shamanism was then undertaken so that the implications for the training and selection of Jungian analysts could be deduced. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/181654
Date January 2005
CreatorsMerchant, John Frederick, University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, School of Psychology
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish

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