Feeling Jung today?
October 3, 2019 8:31 PM Subscribe
For a book proposal, I need to illustrate (preferably quantitatively) that people are still interested in Jungian psychology and related therapies (including narrative therapy).
When writing a book proposal, the most important thing is to spell out exactly who your audience will be, and it's best if you can use numbers. "Last year, 300,000 seniors went ziplining for the first time" and that kind of thing. Or "My cat has 433,888 Instagram followers who will want his book."
I need to do come up with similar kinds of numbers related to Jungian psychology, particularly things to do with archetypes and/or the shadow. My book is an art book, not a psychology book. However, I do get into archetypes and the shadow, so I need to mention the Jung-oriented types as a potential audience. Narrative therapy comes from Jungian, so that's fine to include, as well as other Jung-related therapies I don't know.
Where can I get data to prove the relevance of Jung? Are there psychology journals showing how trends in patients getting Jungian or narrative therapy? Are there professional organizations for Jung therapists/ scholars? Are there more college courses being taught on using Jung to interpret art? Are workshops on archetypal writing surging in popularity? That kind of thing. (Publishers can look up sales figures of related books, so I'm not bothering with that.)
It's not helpful to hear about one class here or there, and it's also not helpful to hear that "a lot of therapists" or "many scholars" do anything. I need to think big picture here and be highly specific about it.
I'm sure someone has the research goods on this; thank you for your help.
When writing a book proposal, the most important thing is to spell out exactly who your audience will be, and it's best if you can use numbers. "Last year, 300,000 seniors went ziplining for the first time" and that kind of thing. Or "My cat has 433,888 Instagram followers who will want his book."
I need to do come up with similar kinds of numbers related to Jungian psychology, particularly things to do with archetypes and/or the shadow. My book is an art book, not a psychology book. However, I do get into archetypes and the shadow, so I need to mention the Jung-oriented types as a potential audience. Narrative therapy comes from Jungian, so that's fine to include, as well as other Jung-related therapies I don't know.
Where can I get data to prove the relevance of Jung? Are there psychology journals showing how trends in patients getting Jungian or narrative therapy? Are there professional organizations for Jung therapists/ scholars? Are there more college courses being taught on using Jung to interpret art? Are workshops on archetypal writing surging in popularity? That kind of thing. (Publishers can look up sales figures of related books, so I'm not bothering with that.)
It's not helpful to hear about one class here or there, and it's also not helpful to hear that "a lot of therapists" or "many scholars" do anything. I need to think big picture here and be highly specific about it.
I'm sure someone has the research goods on this; thank you for your help.
The Myers-Briggs test is based on Jung's work--would numbers related to the MBTI work for your purposes?
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:02 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:02 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
So, uh... the Persona video game series explicitly draws a lot from Jungian psychology and has sold an awful lot of copies (numbers here).
posted by asperity at 9:06 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by asperity at 9:06 PM on October 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
You could look at the sales demographics of The Red Book.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:01 PM on October 3, 2019
posted by j_curiouser at 10:01 PM on October 3, 2019
The band Tool have exposed a lot of people to some of Jung's ideas, though most listeners aren't aware of it (or if they know of his influence, couldn't pick out which terms or ideas are directly Jungian).
And for better or worse, Jordan Peterson draws heavily on Jung.
posted by Candleman at 10:04 PM on October 3, 2019
And for better or worse, Jordan Peterson draws heavily on Jung.
posted by Candleman at 10:04 PM on October 3, 2019
There's a non-profit in Portland, OR that organizes public lectures and seminars: Oregon Friends of C.G. Jung.
According to their website, they have 300 members and their events regularly draw 200+ attendees.
I remember from grad school that there is at least one academic journal focusing on Jungian ideas but from what I saw of it, it was highly qualitative with essays about various mythologies and thematic case studies.
While you're searching for Jungian organizations, you could also search for some of the post-Jungian schools of thought, including archetypal psychology, and imaginal psychology. Depth psychology in general is broader than Jung but might be a fruitful place to look as well.
Finally, James Hillman is a major post-Jungian thinker and Thomas Moore (a best-selling author) popularized his (and Jung's) ideas.
posted by overglow at 12:06 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
According to their website, they have 300 members and their events regularly draw 200+ attendees.
I remember from grad school that there is at least one academic journal focusing on Jungian ideas but from what I saw of it, it was highly qualitative with essays about various mythologies and thematic case studies.
While you're searching for Jungian organizations, you could also search for some of the post-Jungian schools of thought, including archetypal psychology, and imaginal psychology. Depth psychology in general is broader than Jung but might be a fruitful place to look as well.
Finally, James Hillman is a major post-Jungian thinker and Thomas Moore (a best-selling author) popularized his (and Jung's) ideas.
posted by overglow at 12:06 AM on October 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
While being an incredibly divisive figure, public thinker and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson is a self-confessed Jungian and includes Jungian theories in his million-selling books "Map of Meaning" and "12 Rules".
The $9.9 billion self/personal development industry with its focus on indiviudation/self-realization/personal wholeness, personality tests, dreams, and integration of science and Eastern philosophy has a lot to thank Jung.
It may not be explicit, but Jung pervades contemporary culture much more than we think.
(I say all this as someone who thought about training to become a Jungian analyst.)
posted by foxmardou at 2:50 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
The $9.9 billion self/personal development industry with its focus on indiviudation/self-realization/personal wholeness, personality tests, dreams, and integration of science and Eastern philosophy has a lot to thank Jung.
It may not be explicit, but Jung pervades contemporary culture much more than we think.
(I say all this as someone who thought about training to become a Jungian analyst.)
posted by foxmardou at 2:50 AM on October 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
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The main one (for therapists) seems to be the International Association for Analytical Psychology:
The International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) was founded in 1955 and is the accrediting and regulatory organization for all professional analytical psychologists’ groups. The main objectives of the IAAP are to advance the understanding and utility of analytical psychology worldwide, and to ensure that the highest professional, scientific and ethical standards are maintained in the training and practice of analytical psychologists among its Member Groups.
posted by thelonius at 8:38 PM on October 3, 2019 [1 favorite]