Archetypal Explorations: Towards an Archetypal Sociology

Archetypal Explorationsis a ground-breaking study which examines one of Jung's most important theories and the link it forms between analytical psychology and the social sciences. Richard Gray uses the concept of archetypes as a basis for understanding the reciprocal interaction of individuals and culture in co-evolving systems. In a systematized approach to the subject, Gray reveals the implicitly cross-cultural and interdisciplinary nature of Jung's work. Despite the depth of the Jungian contribution to understanding social phenomena, little has been done to apply it to sociology. Beginning with a re-examination of the literature of archetypes, Gray makes enlightening comparisons between Jung's words and the formulations of the century's prominent sociologists. Elements of modern biology and systems theory are introduced to achieve a clearer definition of archetypes.