The Alchemy of Narcissism: Depression, Regression, and the Lesser Coniunctio.

Max Phillips

Author Information

Max Phillips: Brighton, UK. ORCID

PMID: 39686566 DOI: 10.1111/1468-5922.13059

While C. G. Jung largely eschewed the term "narcissism" following his split with Freud, his writings describe in archetypal language conditions that closely resemble narcissistic disorders. One such archetype, the puer æternus, appears phenomenologically similar to clinical descriptions of Heinz Kohut, in particular his case of "Mr. Z", and what has been termed elsewhere as hyper-vigilant (as opposed to oblivious) narcissism. While narcissism as a concept has been addressed at length in post-Jungian literature, this paper uses Kohut's case as a starting point to explore the corresponding alchemical process of life-renewal, the ambivalence of regression, and the dangers of the lesser coniunctio, or the archetypal basis of the weak ego's desire for incest with the collective unconscious in the form of the Great/Terrible Mother. It also addresses the clinical relevance of this topic when working with the individual who fits Kohut's description of Tragic Man, or Jung's puer æternus.

Alchemie Analytische Psychologie Narzißmus Selbstpsychologie alchemy alchimia alchimie alquimia analytical psychology dopo Jung narcisismo narcissism narcissisme post‐Jung psicologia analitica psicologia del Sé psicología analítica psicología del self psychologie analytique psychologie du soi puer aeternus puer æternus self psychology алхимия аналитическая психология нарциссизм пост‐юнгианство психология самости 分析心理学后荣格永恒少年炼金术自恋自我心理学

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Humans

Narcissism

Jungian Theory

Regression, Psychology

Depression

Male

Journal Article

OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience