Which term did Jung use to denote a shared layer of the psyche containing archetypes?

Which term did Jung use to denote a shared layer of the psyche containing archetypes?

• A. Personal unconscious
• B. Collective unconscious
• C. Ego
• D. Shadow

Answer: (B)

Jung’s idea here centers on two levels of the psyche: a personal layer formed by individual experiences and a deeper, shared layer that all humans inherit. The shared layer is the collective unconscious, where archetypes—universal, primitive patterns such as the mother image, the hero, and the trickster—reside. These archetypes shape dreams, myth, and behavior across cultures, even though we may not be aware of their influence. The personal unconscious, by contrast, contains material unique to a person—repressed memories, forgotten experiences, private motivations. The ego is the conscious sense of self, while the shadow comprises aspects of the personality that are often rejected or hidden, typically belonging to the personal unconscious. Because the question asks for the term describing the shared layer that houses archetypes, the collective unconscious is the best fit.

Jung’s idea here centers on two levels of the psyche: a personal layer formed by individual experiences and a deeper, shared layer that all humans inherit. The shared layer is the collective unconscious, where archetypes—universal, primitive patterns such as the mother image, the hero, and the trickster—reside. These archetypes shape dreams, myth, and behavior across cultures, even though we may not be aware of their influence. The personal unconscious, by contrast, contains material unique to a person—repressed memories, forgotten experiences, private motivations. The ego is the conscious sense of self, while the shadow comprises aspects of the personality that are often rejected or hidden, typically belonging to the personal unconscious. Because the question asks for the term describing the shared layer that houses archetypes, the collective unconscious is the best fit.