Seeing Through to the Organizational Psyche: An Archetypal Analysis

Abstract

A case study conducted under the rubric of integral inquiry, this research explores the application of Jungian and archetypal psychology to the growth process of an organization. Drawing upon analysis of public documents using Corlett and Pearson’s Archetype of Organization model, it identifies the Hero, Ruler, and Sage as the archetypes most active within the organizational psyche of the Oregon Public Health Division and the Jester, Explorer, Creator, and Caregiver as archetypes in the organizational shadow. Focus group discussion data characterizes these archetypes and contributes to specific recommendations for how this archetypal analysis could inform the agency’s development and modernization. Guided by Hillman’s process of “seeing through,” further analysis provides alchemical and mythological perspectives on the agency’s organizational psyche informed by metaphorical analysis of documents and focus group data, the somatic and emotional responses of researcher and participants, and the researcher’s dream and self-generated mandala images. This inquiry demonstrates that archetypal analysis can provide a valuable and unusual perspective on an agency, a nuanced opportunity for an organization to “know thyself” not available by means of conventional public health program evaluations or organizational assessments.