Metanoia (psychology)

For other uses, see Metanoia (disambiguation).

Metanoia (from the Greek μετάνοια, metanoia, changing one's mind) in the psychological theory of Carl Jung denotes a process of reforming the psyche as a form of self healing, a proposed explanation for the phenomenon of psychotic breakdown. Here, metanoia is viewed as a potentially productive process, and therefore patients' psychotic episodes are not necessarily always to be thwarted.

In Carl Jung's psychology, metanoia indicates a spontaneous attempt of the psyche to heal itself of unbearable conflict by melting down and then being reborn in a more adaptive form. Jung believed that psychotic episodes in particular could be understood as existential crises which were sometimes attempts at self-reparation. Jung's concept of metanoia influenced R. D. Laing and the therapeutic community movement which aimed, ideally, to support people whilst they broke down and went through spontaneous healing, rather than thwarting such efforts at self-repair by strengthening their existing character defences and thereby maintaining the underlying conflict.

Etymology

The term derives from the Ancient Greek words μετά (metá) (meaning "beyond" or "after") and νόος (noeō) (meaning "perception" or "understanding" or "mind"), and takes on different meanings in different contexts.

References

• "Achieving a Metanoia". Jungian Center News. 2009-07-06. http://jungiancenter.org/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=35&m=12&y=2009&d=&s=. Retrieved 2010-01-20. 

• Jung, Carl, (1960), The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche, CW 8. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1959), The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, CW 9i. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1959), Aion, Collected Works, 9ii. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1970), Civilization in Transition, CW 10. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1969), Psychology and Religion: West and East, CW 11. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1954), The Practice of Psychotherapy, CW 16. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Jung, Carl, (1976), The Symbolic Life, CW 18. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Keirsey, David & Marilyn Bates (1984), Please Understand Me. Del Mar CA: Prometheus Nemesis Books. Schumacher, E.F. (1973), Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered. New York: Harper & Row. Tart, Charles (1987), Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential. Boston: Shambhala.