fei75766_ch04_107-148.indd 124  02/19/20 09:00 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories124
Progression and Regression
Toachieve self-realization, people must adapt notonlytotheiroutside environment 
buttotheirinner world aswell.Adaptation totheoutside world involves theforward 
flowofpsychic energy andiscalled progression, whereas adaptation totheinner world 
relies onabackward flowofpsychic energy andiscalled regression. Both progression 
andregression areessential ifpeople aretoachieve individual growth orself-realization.
Progression inclines aperson toreact consistently toagiven setofenviron -
mental conditions, whereas regression isanecessary backward stepinthesuccessful 
attainment ofagoal. Regression activates theunconscious psyche, anessential aid
inthesolution ofmost problems. Alone, neither progression norregression leads to
development. Either canbring about toomuch one-sidedness andfailure inadapta -
tion;butthetwo,working together, canactivate theprocess ofhealthy personality 
development (Jung, 1928/1960).
Regression isexemplified inJung’s midlife crisis, during which timehispsychic 
lifewasturned inward toward theunconscious andaway from anysignificant outward 
accomplishments. Hespent most ofhisenergy becoming acquainted withhisuncon -
scious psyche anddidlittleinthewayofwriting orlecturing. Regression dominated 
hislifewhile progression nearly ceased. Subsequently, heemerged from thisperiod 
withagreater balance ofthepsyche andonce again became interested intheextra -
verted world. However, hisregressive experiences withtheintroverted world hadleft
himpermanently andprofoundly changed. Jung(1961) believed thattheregressive 
stepisnecessary tocreate abalanced personality andtogrow toward self-realization.
Psychological Types
Besides thelevels ofthepsyche andthedynamics ofpersonality, Jungrecognized var-
iouspsychological types thatgrow outofaunion oftwobasic attitudes —introversion 
andextraversion—and fourseparate functions —thinking, feeling, sensing, andintuiting.
Attitudes
Jung(1921/1971) defined anattitude asapredisposition toactorreact inacharac -
teristic direction. Heinsisted thateachperson hasbothanintroverted andanextra -
verted attitude, although onemaybeconscious while theother isunconscious. Like
other opposing forces inanalytical psychology, introversion andextraversion serve in
acompensatory relationship tooneanother andcanbeillustrated bytheyangandthe
yinmotif (seeFigure 4.2).
Introversion
According toJung, introversion istheturning inward ofpsychic energy withanori-
entation toward thesubjective. Introverts aretuned intotheirinner world withall
itsbiases, fantasies, dreams, andindividualized perceptions. These people perceive 
theexternal world, ofcourse, buttheydososelectively andwiththeirownsubjective 
view(Jung, 1921/1971).Final PDF to printer