Which Jungian Archetype Best Describes You

Which Jungian Archetype Best Describes You

As Freud’s classic psychoanalysis gained popularity, one psychotherapist who dared to dissent was Carl Gustav Jung. Jung deviated from the notion that the unconscious is mainly a reservoir of repressed desires, trauma, and other negative childhood memories. He believed that our unconscious is composed of both personal experiences and the collective experiences/genetic makeup of the human race. He called these the personal and the collective unconscious.

Founding analytical psychology, Jung later on proposed the concept of archetypes. He referred to archetypes as human behavioral patterns residing in our collective unconscious. He introduced 12 personality archetypes, equally divided under the umbrellas of Ego, Soul, and Self. These personality archetypes are arguably Jung’s most influential work. You can even find different versions of the Jungian archetypes test – a personality test that aims to help you discover your prominent archetype.

The 12 Jungian Archetypes

EGO

1. The Hero

This archetype is all about valor. They never miss out on an opportunity to display their courage and bravery. They are strong-willed, ambitious, and masters of their own craft. However, people who fall under this archetype might have the tendency of being overly competitive and overly animated. Their courageous acts are often motivated by their desire to always prove themselves to others.

2. The Orphan

Another archetype under the Ego group is the Orphan. People in this archetype tend to be sensitive and submissive. They operate with pain and are often in need of other people’s affection. They always feel the need to be protected and taken care of. To an extreme extent, these emotional needs can motivate manipulative behavior.

3. The Innocent

Although often perceived as naive, the innocent archetype is all about purity and optimism. They always choose to see the good in everything, sometimes to their disadvantage. These people are susceptible to abuse because of their pure hearts. Because they always want to feel like they belong, they would do everything to please other people.

4. The Caregiver

The caregiver archetype is nurturing and comforting. They are the most selfless of all the archetypes. Some even call this archetype the “mother” as many people believe that maternal instincts primarily stem from this archetype. They are compassionate and are always ready to help others. All these, without expecting anything in return.

SOUL

5. The Rebel

The rebel archetype motivates problematic behavior in people. Most people under this archetype are conceited and do not follow any rules. They do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means being a nuisance to others. Their core desire is to always revolt against something. They love their freedom but never the responsibility that goes with it.

6. The Lover

The lover archetype is not just about romance. It encompasses everything that has to do with love. It is all about faithfulness, kindness, gratitude, and intimacy. People in this archetype are generally expressive of what they truly feel.

7. The Explorer

From the term itself, this archetype is all about the discovery of new things and meeting new people. They hate the feeling of being stuck in one place. They value their freedom. They are the types of people who are always on the go for new adventures.

8. The Artist

Also known as the Creator, this archetype loves being able to create something original. They are innovative. They believe that every person has the ability to create something from scratch. They are extremely creative and take pride in all their work.

SELF

9. The Jester

A little similar to the explorer, this archetype loves living in the moment. They believe that we only live once, so we should do everything to protect our freedom and happiness. They love enjoying things – big and small. People in this archetype are usually dubbed as the life of the party.

10. The Ruler

People in this archetype are born leaders. They believe that power is the most important thing in the world. They hate the feeling of not being in control. Because they possess great intellect, they often think that the best way in every situation is for people to follow their advice.

11. The Magician

The Magician’s core principles are rooted in the understanding of the universe. They are considered to be the most spiritual of all the archetypes. They believe that if something is meant to be, there’s nothing that can get in the way of achieving it. Their minds are powerful tools for manifesting desires.

12. The Sage

This archetype is all about learning from life. They put great value on education as they believe being full of wisdom is what each person needs to survive. They are the queens/kings of self-development. They are in an endless pursuit to be the better versions of themselves.

Which Of The 12 Jungian Archetypes Do You Identify With The Most?

Now that you know the characteristics of each archetype, you can already use this knowledge to understand yourself and others. What are your motivations in doing this and that? What are other people’s intentions? These Jungian archetypes serve as a great starting point in exploring the human mind and our behavior. Moreover, this new understanding sparks a clearer perspective of who we are, what we want, and why want them.

Wrapping It Up

Studying how the mind works has essentially one goal: to be able to cultivate ways to improve our quality of living. When we understand what motivates us or how our mental states affect our everyday lives, it becomes easier for us to determine what to change in order to live better. This is how Carl Jung perceived the study of personality archetypes – to lead us in creating our best-developed Self.