Archetypes and Mysterious Opportunities: Conscious and Unconscious Underpinnings of Self-Initiated Expatriation to Ecuador

Abstract

Qualitative depth psychological research was conducted in Ecuador, SA, to identify overt conscious-intentional and hidden unconscious-archetypal motivations that influenced the decisions for self-initiated expatriation (SIE) from North America and Europe to a country considered paradisiac for SIE.  Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) with a multilayered Jungian approach, results of five months of live interviews with a comprehensive sample of SIEs demonstrated that along with conscious factors known in decisions to become SIEs (environment, politics, purpose, adventure, endings, love, economics) were superordinate themes suggesting unconscious-archetypal factors. Primary were the archetypes of meaning, rebirth, anima-animus, and the great mother while archetypes of the hero, paradise, shadow, trickster, and the child were contributory.  Mysterious opportunities, unexplainable coincidences, deep knowing, strange encounters, dreams, and imaginal fantasy were revealed as pivotal factors that escalated participants’ decision making for SIE.  A hypothesis is made: The central archetype of the Self seemed to be activating SIE toward personal and societal individuation.  IPA themes may also provide insight for therapists whose clients fantasize about expatriation, for SIEs, and for companies assessing psychological readiness of candidates for international assignments.