The archetype is a concept of psychologist Carl Gustav Jung. In
this context, archetypes are innate prototypes for ideas, which
may subsequently become involved in the interpretation of observed
phenomena. A group of memories and interpretations closely associated
with an archetype is called a complex, and may be named for its
central archetype (e.g. "mother complex"). Jung often
seemed to view the archetypes as sort of psychological organs, directly
analogous to our physical, bodily organs: both being morphological
givens for the species; both arising at least partially through
evolutionary processes.
There are four famous forms of archetypes numbered by Jung:
The symbols of the unconscious abound in Jungian psychology:
- The Syzygy(Divine Couple, e.g. Aeons)
- The Child (examples: Linus van Pelt, Tommy Pickles from Rugrats, Arnold Shortman)
- The Superman (the Omnipotent)
- The Hero(examples: Siegfried, Beowulf, Doc Savage, Luke Skywalker, Thomas A. Anderson ("Neo"), Harry Potter)
- The Great Mother manifested either as the Good Mother or the Terrible Mother (examples: Glinda, Good Witch of the North)
- TheWise Old Man (examples: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Gandalf, Albus Dumbledore)
- The Trickster or Ape (examples: Brer Rabbit, Otto Rocket, Bart Simpson, Bugs Bunny, Loki, Eris, Eshu,Trix's Rabbit)
"Archetype" is sometimes broadly and misleadingly used as a substitute for such other words as prototype, stereotype, and epitome. Examples:
- Mother
- Father
- Hero
- Warrior
- Martyr