Customer Reviews

The Development of Personality (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.17)

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Seems only 'Hung" is the only other reader who undersatnds Jung's ideas. The other reviewers comments prove what Jung predicted about the legacy of his writings. " I write for the few who will understand my ideas..."
Jung will continue to not only be ignored by the institutions of both learning and practice. But also we see some general readers go on the attck, many of which are atheists, as I;ve come across this attitude toward Jung among the anti-religious.
Essential reading for those wishing to continue exploring the depths of their psyche, dealing with the highly important subject, the influences of the psyches of the parents on the developing child.
Atheists stay clear of Jung, its not meant for you....man that will surely get their blood boiling...

Jung wrote in the Foreword to the Second Edition, "The point of view adopted in this work is psycho-biological. It is naturally not the only one possible, as indeed there are several others. Thus, more in accord with the spirit of Freudian psychology, this little piece of child psychology could be regarded from the purely hedonistic standpoint, the psychological process being conceived as a movement dominated by the pleasure principle... I have been content to steer a middle course that keeps to the psycho-biological method of observation, without attempting to subordinate the material to this or that hypothetical key principle."

Here are some representative quotations from the book:

"Theories in psychology are the very devil. It is true that we need certain points of view for their orienting and heuristic velue; but they should always be regarded as mere auxiliary concepts that can be laid aside at any time." (Pg. 7)
"Freud's particular merit lies not in the actual discovery of unconscious activity, but in unveiling the real nature of this activity, and above all in working out a practical method for exploring the unconscious." (Pg. 67)
"Before Freud nothing was allowed to be sexual, now everything is nothing but sexual." (Pg. 84)
"(I)n America civic life appeals to the intelligence and expects an intelligent response, whereas in Europe it plans for stupidity." (Pg. 135)
"The Church represents a higher spiritual substitute for the purely natural, or 'carnal,' tie to the parents. Consequently it frees the individual from an unconscious natural relationship which, strictly speaking, is not a relationship at all but simply a condition of inchoate, unconscious identity." (Pg. 158)
"Moreover, there are dreams that defy every effort at interpretation. Often the only possible thing is to hazard a guess." (Pg. 163)

This was a gift for my son who really likes Jungian ideas. He had put this on his wish list and was very happy to receive it.

The book is full of excellent advice and insights if the reader has in mind that the material is about a century old. The core of what Jung wrote here is still impressively relevant, though of course some things are outdated.
If you're interested in education and jungian psychology and is not particularly knowledgeable of both, then this is highly recommended. Straightforward and not too scholarly or dense.

Jung essentially ceded developmental psychology to Freud et al. Piaget is well-known in this arena--though he isn't any easier to read than Jung IMHO. But, if you are deeply interested in Jung, you'll want to read the entire Collected Works (0691074763), the 3 books of Letters (one is 1/2 Freud--ed. McGuire, the other 2 ed. Adler & Jaffe), his autobiography (Memories, Dreams, Reflections) with Jaffe, his interviews (C. G. Jung Speaking, ed. McGuire), & "Man & His Symbols" with some of his major students--made for a more general audience. I did get a couple of good quotes from this book: p. 42 "Parents should always be conscious of the fact that they themselves are the principal cause of neurosis in their children" & p. 87 "Fanaticism is always a compensation for hidden doubt."

One of his weakest works, but still part of his whole. Many of his theories come from the asusmptions in this work. If you are looking to study him in depth than go ahead, if you are looking for his most stimulating ideas than you would probably do better with something a little less scholarly.

Jung wasn't known to be strong on developmental theory, and he proves it in this collection. Sparks of illumination but not much developmental meat to the book.