“The Psychological Issues of Modern Man” is a representative work by the master of psychology, Jung. It includes important works published by Jung in various periods and is a classic masterpiece for the general public.
As Jung stated in the preface, “This great problem of the psyche has left many people with empty thoughts, and this collection is intended to guide readers on how to explore it.” This book introduces psychological concepts such as archetypes, the unconscious, self-regulatory complexes, personality types, etc., theoretically, to answer people’s psychological confusions. It also explores specific cases, demonstrating the application of psychology in life, including the influence of parents on children, challenges at various stages of life, psychological relationships in marriage, psychological types, etc.
Jung believed that for modern individuals, the psyche is a strange, hostile, and incompatible entity. The suffering we endure stems from our ignorance of the psyche. Only by acknowledging the dark side of our psyche, recognizing the existence of psychological forces, and treating these forces correctly can we understand ourselves, understand the world, and find meaning in life.
“The Psychological Issues of Modern Man,” written by [Switzerland] Carl Jung, translated by Wenzeyuan and Lin Hongtao, published by Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House.
>> Selected Reading:
The Internal and External Struggles of the Inner World
If existing things from the past can adapt to the possibilities and requirements of future things, then problems will be easily resolved. Limiting oneself to what one is capable of in psychology means giving up all other possibilities of the psyche. Some people lose a precious past, while others lose a precious future. We all recall friends and classmates who had promising futures, embracing ideals, but when we reunite years later, they are dried up and trapped in swamps. The so-called answer is exactly that. Major life issues are never permanently resolved. If everything seems fine, it may mean something has been lost. The purpose of problems is not the answers but the perseverance in dealing with them. Only through this can we avoid becoming foolish, sluggish, and resistant to change. If people limit themselves to what they are capable of, the answers to adolescent problems will only be temporary and rarely permanent. Gaining a foothold in society and distorting one’s nature to fit this way of survival is quite an achievement. It is a struggle between the inner and outer worlds, similar to the struggle for self-existence during childhood. This kind of struggle is often unconscious, but if we persist in clinging to childhood fantasies or preconceptions after many years, we will realize how much effort it took to shape them. Ideals, beliefs, dominant concepts, and mindsets formed in our adolescence are no different. We fought for them, suffered for them, and ultimately triumphed: they merged with our essence, becoming part of us, so we naturally continue their existence, as if it were inevitable, just like young people who must assert themselves when facing the world and themselves, whether willing or not.
As a person reaches middle age, their personal mindset and social status solidify, making them feel they are on the right path in life, having found the correct ideals and principles. They assume these are perpetually effective and virtuous, so they adhere to them. However, people overlook a fundamental fact: their achievements in society come at the cost of personality shrinkage. Many lives, many missed lives, perhaps remain sealed in the storage of memory, sometimes like embers in ashes.
Statistics show that around the age of 40, cases of depression increase significantly in men, while women generally experience psychosomatic problems earlier. At this stage of life, between 35 and 40, significant changes in the psyche are imminent. Initially, the changes are imperceptible, with only subtle signs starting unconsciously. Sometimes it’s gradual changes in personality; other times, traits lost during childhood resurface. Current inclinations and interests may fade, replaced by new tendencies and interests. Beliefs and principles, especially in morality, become rigid and stubborn, intensifying around the age of 50, becoming increasingly intolerant and zealously dogmatic, as if these principles are threatened and require constant reinforcement.
One’s youthful spirit doesn’t necessarily become clearer with age; sometimes it becomes clouded. We see this most clearly in stubborn people, it’s just a matter of sooner or later. In my view, this situation often arises due to the parents of the individual still being alive. It’s akin to the elongation of adolescence. I have observed this in men whose fathers are still living. The father’s death forces them to mature rapidly, almost a catastrophic growth.
Author: [Switzerland] Carl Jung
Writing: [Switzerland] Carl Jung Editing: Jiang Chuting Responsible Editor: Zhu Zifen
