Archetypes and Personality Profiling

I need to start this week with a disclaimer that this subject has been the subject of endless books, businesses and careers and today’s overarching explanation is just an introductory overview.

Jung himself wrote many books on this subject and these works and resulting impact on future works are exactly why I wanted to introduce him to you.

So here goes.

Jung believed that we all share certain universal patterns of behaviour, which he labelled ‘archetypes’.

These are fundamental, recurring symbols or motifs that appear in our dreams, myths, and stories across different cultures. Some of the key archetypes include:

• The Hero: representing courage, determination, and the drive to overcome challenges.

• The Wise Old Man: symbolising wisdom, guidance, and knowledge.

• The Mother: nurturing, caring, and supportive, but also sometimes smothering.

• The Trickster: mischievous, disruptive, but often a force for change and creativity.

These archetypes are expressed not only in storytelling but also in our personal lives. For instance, you may find yourself drawn to the qualities of a Hero when facing a challenge, or embody the nurturing qualities of the Mother in relationships.

Many modern personality profiling tools, like Insights Discovery or the MBTI, draw from Jung’s work on archetypes. For example, Insights uses four primary colour-coded energies – Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue. All are linked to Jungian personality types and archetypes. By understanding your dominant type (e.g., introverted-thinking or extroverted-feeling), you can gain insight into your strengths, potential blind spots, and how you interact with others.

How Personality Profiling Can Help:

1. Self-awareness: Profiling can reveal your core personality traits, helping you understand your natural preferences and tendencies.

2. Interpersonal effectiveness: By understanding how others might differ in their communication and problem-solving styles, you can improve your relationships and teamwork.

3. Personal growth: Profiling can highlight areas for development, encouraging you to embrace the parts of your personality that may be underdeveloped or overlooked.

I have completed the profile many times over at different stages of my life and always find it impactful, interesting and revealing.

So in summary, Jung’s exploration of archetypes, introversion and extroversion, the Shadow, and the Self offers a powerful framework for understanding who we are. Through embracing both the light and the shadow within ourselves, we can move towards a fuller, more authentic existence.