This book traces the developmental, relational, metapsychological theory that emerges from Erich Neumann’s writings, while considering the influences of his life circumstances and relationship with Jung. It revisions, reevaluates, and consolidates the emerging theory, in the hope of reviving interest in Neumann’s writings, and indicate his importance as a Jungian theoretician. This manuscript shows that Neumann’s theory effectively supplements Jung’s original writings, and is relevant to both theory and therapeutic practice. It presents Neumann’s formulations of psychological development from birth to the advanced stages of individuation process as a synthesis of his various writings. The books The Origins and History of Consciousness, The Great Mother, Jacob and Esau, Depth Psychology and a New Ethic, and The Child are at the center of focus, supported and amplified by some of Neumann’s metapsychological Eranos articles.
Personally, I am thrilled with Lidar’s enthusiasm and her decision to leap into the task of researching the life and the works of my father, Erich Neumann. My father wrote in high German, and unfortunately a lot of his theories were lost in translation. Lidar took upon herself to explain his theories and make them more accessible. I believe that Lidar’s book will encourage many to delve into the writings of my father and revive interest in his contribution to Analytical Psychology.
For this, I thank her greatly.
Prof. Micha Neumann
Table of Contents
Personal Disclosure
Chapter 1
Introduction
General Intro
Source Material
Part I
Part II
Erich Neumann: Biographical Background
Erich Neuamann and C.G. Jung – Evolving Relationship
Critic and Support of Neumann’s
A note on Terminology
Part I
Advanced Stages of Individuation
Chapter 2
The Burning Themes: Shadow, Voice, and Earth
Jung, Neumann and the Great Individual
Neumann, a Political, Social and Ecological Activist
Neumann, a Hero’s Journey on the Path of Individuation
Chapter 3
Jacob and Esau – A Story of Individuation
General
The Framework
Consciousness Levels in Encountering the Shadow
A Biblical Story and the Midrashhim as a Level of Interpretation
The Plot
Neumann’s Analysis of the Biblical Story as an Individuation Path
Jacob and Esau as Opposites
The Shadow
The Scheme and the Flight
Jacob’s Ladder Dream
Reencountering Esau
The Conclusions of Jacob’s Journey
Chapter 4
Attending the Inner Voice – New Ethic
The Background
From Jacob and Esau to New Ethic
The Genesis of New Ethic
The Ape-Man Fantasy
New Ethic
Developmental Clarification
A Brief Description of Lawrence Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
Neumann’s Stages of Ethic Development
Primal Unity
Old Ethic
Recollectivization
New Ethic
Final Stage: Integrating Evil
Conclusion: Jung’s and Neumann’s Different Approach to Evil
Part II
Early Life Developmental Relational Theory
Introduction
Chapter 5
Neumann’s Conceptualization and Terminology
Background of Child Analysis in Jungian Theory
Fordham and Neumann, Cain and Abel
An Overview of Neumann’s Contribution
The Archetypal Perspective
The Self: Early Life Aspects
Body-Self
Ego-Self Axis
Centroversion and Automorphism: Functions in Service of the Self
The General Plan
Chapter 6
Primal Relationship
Primal Relationship in General
Biopsychic Importance: A Psychological Pregnancy
The Uroboric Psychological Experience
First Phase of Primal Relationship: Uroboric, Maternal Paradise
Second Phase of the Primal Relationship: Uroboric Great Mother
Disturbed Primal Relationship
Chapter 7
Ego Development Throughout the Primal Relationship
The Stages of Ego Development
Embryonic Ego
Infantile/Childish Ego
Adolescent Ego
Hero Ego
Disturbed Ego Development
Applications and Possible Remedies
Hamaon Neve Tze’elim
Conclusion: A Unifi ed Jungian Early Life Developmental Theory
Chapter 8
Review of Further Psychological Development
General
From Boy to Man
Son-Lover
Separation of the World Parents
The Hero
The Fight for Liberation of the Anima
From Girl to Woman
Self-Conservation in the Maternal Uroboros
Invasion of the Patriarchal Uroboros
Self-Surrender in the Patriarchate
Matriarchal Consciousness
Concluding with Sophia
Epilogue
References
Appendix I: Consciousness Levels of Humanity’s Encountering the Shadow