fei75766_ch04_107-148.indd 109  02/19/20 09:00 AM
Chapter 4    Jung: Analytical Psychology109
Thischapter looks withsome detail intothelongandcolorful lifeofCarlJung
andusesfragments from hislifehistory toillustrate hisconcepts andtheories. Jung’s 
notion ofthecollective unconscious makes histheory oneofthemost intriguing ofall
conceptions ofpersonality.
Biography of Carl Jung
CarlGustav JungwasbornonJuly26,1875, inKesswil, atown onLake Constance 
inSwitzerland. Hispaternal grandfather, theelder CarlGustav Jung, wasaprominent 
physician inBasel andoneofthebest-known menofthatcity.Alocalrumor suggested 
thattheelder CarlJungwastheillegitimate sonofthegreat German poetGoethe. 
Although theelder Jungnever acknowledged therumor, theyounger Jung, atleast
sometimes, believed himself tobethegreat-grandson ofGoethe (Ellenberger, 1970).
Both ofJung’s parents weretheyoungest of13children, asituation thatmay
havecontributed tosome ofthedifficulties theyhadintheirmarriage. Jung’s father, 
Johann PaulJung, wasaminister intheSwiss Reformed Church, andhismother, 
Emilie Preiswerk Jung, wasthedaughter ofatheologian. Infact,eight ofJung’s mater -
naluncles andtwoofhispaternal uncles werepastors, sobothreligion andmedicine 
wereprevalent inhisfamily. Jung’s mother’s family hadatradition ofspiritualism 
andmysticism, andhismaternal grandfather, Samuel Preiswerk, wasabeliever in
theoccult andoften talked tothedead. Hekeptanempty chair fortheghost ofhis
firstwifeandhadregular andintimate conversations withher.Quite understandably, 
these practices greatly annoyed hissecond wife.
Jung’s parents hadthree children, asonbornbefore Carlbutwholived only
3daysandadaughter 9years younger thanCarl. Thus, Jung’s early lifewasthatof
anonlychild.
Jung(1961) described hisfather asasentimental idealist withstrong doubts 
about hisreligious faith. Hesawhismother ashaving twoseparate dispositions. On
onehand, shewasrealistic, practical, andwarmhearted, butontheother, shewas
unstable, mystical, clairvoyant, archaic, andruthless. Anemotional andsensitive child, 
Jungidentified more withthissecond sideofhismother, which hecalled herNo.2
ornight personality (Alexander, 1990). Attheageof3,Jungwasseparated from his
mother, whohadtobehospitalized forseveral months, andthisseparation deeply 
troubled young Carl. Foralongtimeafter, hefeltdistrustful whenever theword “love” 
wasmentioned. Years laterhestillassociated “woman” withunreliability, whereas the
word “father” meant reliable—but powerless (Jung, 1961).
Before Jung’s fourth birthday, hisfamily moved toasuburb ofBasel. Itis
from thisperiod thathisearliest dream stems. Thisdream, which wastohaveapro-
found effect onhislaterlifeandonhisconcept ofacollective unconscious, willbe
described later.
During hisschool years, Junggradually became aware oftwoseparate aspects 
ofhisself,andhecalled these hisNo.1andNo.2personalities. Atfirsthesawboth
personalities asparts ofhisownpersonal world, butduring adolescence hebecame 
aware oftheNo.2personality asareflection ofsomething other thanhimself—an 
oldmanlongsince dead. AtthattimeJungdidnotfullycomprehend these separate 
powers, butinlateryears herecognized thatNo.2personality hadbeenintouch with
feelings andintuitions thatNo.1personality didnotperceive. Between his16thandFinal PDF to printer