Collective Unconscious

Definition

The collective unconscious refers to structures of the unconscious mind shared among beings of the same species. It contains archetypes, which are latent universal pre-dispositions towards specific ways of perceiving and behaving in the world.

Related terms

Archetype: These are universally understood symbols or terms or patterns of behavior within one’s psyche based on common human experiences.

Anima/Animus: These are Jungian archetypes representing feminine and masculine principles within each person respectively.

Shadow Self: This represents unknown dark side of personality; negative aspects we choose not to identify with.