fei75766_ch04_107-148.indd 144  02/19/20 09:00 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories144
Ontheother hand, thatpartofJung’s theory concerned withclassification and
typology, thatis,thefunctions andattitudes, canbestudied andtested andhasgener -
ated a moderate amount of research. Because theMyers–Briggs Type Indicator has
yielded agreat number ofinvestigations, wegiveJung’s theory amoderate rating on
itsability togenerate research.
Third, auseful theory should organize observations intoameaningful frame -
work. Analytical psychology isunique because itaddsanewdimension topersonal -
itytheory, namely, thecollective unconscious. Those aspects ofhuman personality 
dealing withtheoccult, themysterious, andtheparapsychological arenottouched 
onbymost other personality theories. Even though thecollective unconscious is
nottheonlypossible explanation forthese phenomena, andother concepts could 
bepostulated toaccount forthem, Jungistheonlymodern personality theorist to
make aserious attempt toinclude suchabroad scope ofhuman activity within a
single theoretical framework. Forthese reasons, wehavegiven Jung’s theory amoder -
aterating onitsability toorganize knowledge.
Thefourth criterion ofauseful theory isitspracticality .Does thetheory aid
therapists, teachers, parents, orothers insolving everyday problems? Thetheory of
psychological types orattitudes andtheMBTI areusedbymany clinicians, butthe
usefulness ofmost analytical psychology islimited tothose therapists whosubscribe 
tobasic Jungian tenets. Theconcept ofacollective unconscious doesnoteasily lend
itself toempirical research, butitmayhavesome usefulness inhelping people under -
stand cultural myths andadjust tolife’straumas. Overall, however, wecangiveJung’s 
theory onlyalowrating inpracticality.
IsJung’s theory ofpersonality internally consistent? Does itpossess asetof
operationally defined terms? Thefirstquestion receives aqualified affirmative answer; 
thesecond, adefinite negative one.Junggenerally usedthesame terms consistently, 
butheoften employed several terms todescribe thesame concept. Thewords regres -
sionandintroverted aresoclosely related thattheycanbesaidtodescribe thesame 
process. Thisisalsotrueofprogression andextraverted, andthelistcould beexpanded 
toinclude several other terms suchasindividuation andself-realization, which alsoare
notclearly differentiated. Jung’s language isoften arcane, andmany ofhisterms are
notadequately defined. Asforoperational definitions, Jung, likeother early personal -
itytheorists, didnotdefine terms operationally. Therefore, weratehistheory aslow
oninternal consistency.
Thefinalcriterion ofauseful theory isparsimony. Jung’s psychology isnot
simple, butneither ishuman personality. However, because itismore cumbersome 
thannecessary, wecangiveitonlyalowrating onparsimony. Jung’s proclivity for
searching fordatafrom avariety ofdisciplines andhiswillingness toexplore hisown
unconscious, evenbeneath thepersonal level, contribute tothegreat complexities 
andthebroad scope ofhistheory. Thelawofparsimony states, “When twotheories 
areequally useful, thesimpler oneispreferred.” Infact,ofcourse, notwoareever
equal, butJung’s theory, while adding adimension tohuman personality notgreatly 
dealt withbyothers, isprobably more complex thannecessary.Final PDF to printer