Jung's Analytical Psychology in Conversation with a Changing World

To be held at:
Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Faculdade de Filosofia. Braga. Portugal

The Faculty of Philosophy of the Portuguese Catholic University in Braga is actively engaged in Jungian studies, in which local IAAP and IAJS colleagues teach. It was also host to the first-ever Jungian conference in Portugal in April 2009.
Braga is the oldest city in Portugal, thought to have been founded around 20 BC during a period of Roman occupation; it is also one of the oldest Christian cities in the world. In the nineteenth century, immigrants from Brazil introduced new tastes in the city’s architecture and infrastructure. Today it is the center of one of the fastest growing area in the EU, and home to two universities.

Conference Themes and Objectives

100 years have passed since Jung published “Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido,” a work that inaugurated his own creative psychology. While Jung’s insights and ideas are still valid in many profound respects, the world and global consciousness have changed a great deal since Jung’s time. A key term in depth psychology, for example, was “the unconscious,” while today “brain” is the dominating word in scientific psychology. Analytical psychotherapy, which has been based on the free will and decision of patients and analysands to visit analysts, is now more and more requested of analysts by hospitals, schools, places hit by natural disaster and various other fields of crisis.

In consideration of this new and still emerging situation, the Program Committee has selected the theme JUNG’S ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN CONVERSATION WITH A CHANGING WORLD for the conference in Braga. Analytical psychotherapy is today being call to address the needs in new fields such as terminal care, HIV counseling, natural disaster (e.g., earthquake disasters in China and Japan), and victimization by criminals. Among academics and other professionals, analytical psychology is being employed in many new and diverse disciplines and practical endeavors (e.g., business coaching, political campaigns, ecological issues). A type of consciousness may be emerging that is not self-reflective in traditional ways and has no understanding of, or space for, “an inner world.” Humanity is faced more than ever before with loss of meaningful myth and ritual in the present state of chronic global financial and ecological crisis.

These situations invite us to a new and critical reading of Jung’s texts. The worldwide response to the newly published “Red Book” shows the value and potential of Jung’s work, especially as it makes contact with art, literature, and religious thought.

Sponsored by
The International Association for Analytical Psychology: IAAP
The International Association for Jungian Studies: IAJS
Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Faculdade de Filosofia.  Braga. Portugal