Franz Lester B.

Aguirre Assigment October 25, 2010

BSBA-HRM / MF1L INSOCIO

1. Explain the concept of Anima and Animus by Carl Jung.

-Jung identified the anima as being the unconscious feminine component of men and the
animus as the unconscious masculine component in women. (Many modern day
Jungian practitioners believe that every person has both an anima and an animus). Jung
stated that the anima and animus act as guides to the unconscious unified Self, and that
forming an awareness and a connection with the anima or animus is one of the most
difficult and rewarding steps in psychological growth. Jung reported that he identified his
anima as she spoke to him, as an inner voice, unexpectedly one day. (Interestingly,
Jung's anima voice was the voice of a former patient with whom Jung had an open
affair.) There are two types of Anima and 2 types of Animus.

The 2 types of Animus:

a.) THE DARK ANIMUS (NEGATIVE)

In this form it lures a woman away from any real relationships and particularly
those with a man. Von Franz describes this state of consciousness as a "cocoon
of dreamy thoughts, filled with desire and judgments about how things 'ought to
be', which cut a woman off from the reality of life."

These are some of the other characteristics of a negative animus:

brutality
recklessness
empty talk
silent, obstinate, evil ideas

There is a more destructive side to this dark animus as well. "By nursing secret
destructive attitudes,"
Franz Lester B. Aguirre Assigment October 25, 2010
BSBA-HRM / MF1L INSOCIO

b.) THE POSITIVE ANIMUS (LIGHT)

The animus tends to produce opinions in women. The creative woman in good
relationship with her animus may be thoroughly feminine but have "invincible
character and speak with power". She may have strong beliefs in what is right and
wrong.

The animus isn't meant to be negative. When properly developed, it can build a
bridge to the Self through creative activity.

The positive qualities of the animus are:

initiative
courage
objectivity
spiritual wisdom

It is a difficult task to develop a positive relationship with the animus. It can take much
time and genuine suffering as it requires conscious attention.

 The 2 types of Anima

a.) THE NEGATIVE ANIMA IN A MAN

This gospel is according to Marie Louise von Franz: "In its individual manifestation the
character of a man's anima is as a rule shaped by his mother. If he feels that his mother
had a negative influence on him, his anima will often express itself in irritable, depressed
moods, uncertainty, insecurity, and touchiness.... Within the soul of such a man the
negative mother -- anima figure will endlessly repeat this theme:

I am nothing.
Nothing makes any sense.
With others it's different,
but for me . . . I enjoy nothing.  

"These anima moods cause a sort of dullness, a fear of disease, or impotence, or of

accidents. The whole of life takes on a sad and oppressive aspect. Such dark moods
can even lure a man to suicide, in which case the anima becomes a death demon."

b.) TYPICAL POSITIVE ANIMA FIGURE (LIGHT)

This anima figure is of the watery type (versus earthy, the other yin element) and she
has that "fairy quality" von Franz speaks about. She is distantly related to mermaids,
ondines, sylphs, the Lorelei and the Sirens in Ulysses. She can be dangerous in her
ability to seduce or lure a man to his death but in her positive aspect she is alluring, not
luring, like this young woman.