2023-04-20 00:30:03
Individuation can be defined as the achievement of self-realization through a process that integrates the conscious and the unconscious. Discover in detail what it is about and how it develops.
From different disciplines —among them psychology— the theme of individuation aroused interest, since it refers to the process that occurs from the first years of life until the person achieves autonomy and independence.
This concept acquires nuances in several aspects, depending on the approach it is addressed, but one of the most important has been that of Jung. The importance attached to it is the possibility for the person to develop their ‘self’, but in relation to others.
That is to say, that he unfolds his potential, his interests, his tastes, etc., within the framework of respect for the society to which he belongs and in which he lives. Let’s see what this is about.
What is individuation?
The creator of the idea of individuation as a key aspect to develop is Jung. This psychologist based a large part of his theory on the individuation process as the goal that every human being seeks to achieve.
For the psychoanalyst, this has to do with achieving a greater awareness of ourselves. The definition that he proposes in his work “Psychological Types” maintains that individuation is the following:
«The process by which the individual is constituted and singled out, and in particular the process by which the psychological individual develops as an entity different from the general, from collective psychology. Individuation is, therefore, a process of differentiation, whose goal is the development of the individual personality.
How does individuation develop?
Individuation always happens in a conflictive way, since it is about the search for integration and harmony between opposing tendencies. The ones that have the greatest emphasis are the tension generated between the conscious and the unconscious, and the individual and the collective..
The union of opposites is what would allow us a unified, coherent and rich personality.
Although there are different proposals regarding how the development of individuation occurs from Jung’s theory, a schematic synthesis brings together the stages mentioned below.
First stage
It begins with the recognition that there are aspects of ourselves that are veiled and that are part of an unconscious that, until now, was unknown. Hence, the person recognizes that there is much beyond consciousness, and get moving to recognize what it is about and what transcends it.
Second stage
It has to do with the acceptance of the shadow, that is, with meeting and accepting those hidden aspects. Many of the elements that are part of this are not socially accepted or valued. However, they must be accepted as part of our nature and we must learn to live with them.
There is reflected the importance that Jung gave to the integration and harmony of the opposites. If we bring this idea to the present, we could explain it as the acceptance of our own limitations and those aspects of which we are not so proud. That is, to recognize ourselves imperfect.
third stage
It refers to the encounter with sexual archetypes, such as ‘the anima‘ and the animus‘. He anima refers to the feminine aspect in men, while the animus refers to the masculine aspect in women.
fourth stage
Relates to the acceptance of our limits, that is, of our shadows. This allows us to visualize ourselves from humility and distances us from omnipotence.
Fifth stage
The last stage has to do with individuation itself, which is achieved by integrating the opposites. In other words, it concludes with a harmonious psyche. As Jung (1939) mentioned in his writings, through this “The psyche ceases to be two incongruous halves and becomes a whole.”
Just as no two people are the same, neither are two individuation processes the same. Each person goes through it in their own, unique and singular way.
Importance in the development of life
Individuation is important, since it is oriented towards integration. If we try to extrapolate Jung’s concept to a more current moment —and distancing ourselves from psychoanalysis— we could say that It means becoming aware that “we are part, but we are different”.
We find ourselves in belonging groups that homogenize us; we are part of a community and a family, with whom we share common traits. At the same time, we can recognize that we are different, and with that we can focus on developing our potential.
With this we can observe a tension between the individual and the collective, between belonging and differentiation.
It is important to note that a person can develop an individuation process; however, this will not be without cost. For Jung, those who fail to explore their inner world and connect with it could develop different problems, such as self-esteem, limits, couples, among others.
How to help in the individuation process?
Various aspects can accompany and support the individuation process. Below, we mention some of the most relevant, in a synthesis that combines proposed readings from Jungian psychology, but also with more current contributions.
- By accepting opposites. This is one of the keys in analytical psychotherapy. That is, recognize the proposed trends to work on them, and thus prevent people from falling into extremes.
- Avoid dependency. On the way to individuation, Jung made it explicit that therapeutic relationships must facilitate autonomy. In other words, the patient must be prevented from creating a dependency bond towards the therapist. It is essential that he can develop resources to count on them and fend for himself.
- Promote a secure attachment environment. Individuation is a process that involves detaching from some ideas of our parents and peers. However, in order to explore the world, it is also necessary to feel safe and confident in it. These conditions are fostered from relational frameworks of secure attachment.
What are the limits of the process?
After reading Jung’s proposals, some ideas may seem somewhat old, not very accessible or understandable to face the vicissitudes of daily life. However, Jung’s contributions to the theorizing about the development of autonomy and the growth of the individual cannot be ignored.
What it is about is reinterpret the theory to be able to make a more current and practical reading. This is one of the limitations of his theory; requires a greater landing, parallelism that has been tried to make a few paragraphs above from the description of the stages of individuation.
The excessive emphasis that has been placed on achieving the integrating totality has also been criticized. In many cases, it was mentioned that this can be confused with perfectionism.
Rather that what is involved is the opposite; of recognize that there are in us opposing tendencies, lights and shadows, but not from a philosophical sense or as a goal of existence, but as knowledge and knowledge that allows us to be more operative and functional on a day-to-day basis.
Self-knowledge as a compass for individuation
For some, the interpretation of individuation can be a complex process, since it presents contradictions between wanting to belong and wanting a sameness.
However, it should not be thought of in exclusive terms, but in permeable and diffuse limits, which can be gradually transformed depending on the needs and circumstances.
What is important to maintain is respect for oneself and one’s own convictions, beyond social pressures. There is also the key to individuation; self-knowledge to put it to play in our favor.
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