Depth Psychology
The modern field of depth psychology originates in the work of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, who called attention to the importance of what lies "below the surface" of conscious awareness. This dimension of psychic reality is revealed in the literary genres of the time, in the expressive arts of a culture, in dreams, and in the symptoms of individuals and communities. The concepts of depth psychology resulting from this long development are at the core of Pacifica’s orientation. These ideas—such as the importance of symbol and metaphor in personal and cultural imagery or the recognition of the dynamic interplay between the natural world and the human psyche—are articulated in all of the Institute’s programs.
Pacifica has a distinct sense of purpose in sustaining and imparting this rich body of knowledge about the intricacies of human imagination. Pacifica works to extend psychology and mythological studies beyond the personal and beyond the consulting room or the classroom. We see psychological life as an evolutionary development within nature, alive in all the phenomena and systems of our world. In light of the imminent dangers overshadowing the contemporary world, we feel that academic pursuits can no longer remain isolated. Rather, psychology, the humanities, and mythological studies must open to multicultural voices and bring their insights to bear on the challenges of the age.
| | | Stephen Aizenstat, Ph.D., founding President of Pacifica Graduate Institute answers the question, "What is Depth Psychology?" |
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