The four archetypes
The Persona
The persona is how we present ourselves to the world. The word "persona" is derived from a Latin word that means "mask." It is not a literal mask, however.
The persona represents all of the different social masks that we wear among various groups and situations. It acts to shield the ego from negative images. According to Jung, the persona may appear in dreams and take different forms.
The Shadow
The shadow is an archetype that consists of sex and life instincts. The shadow exists as part of the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, instincts, and shortcomings.
The shadow forms out of our attempts to adapt to cultural norms and expectations. It is this archetype that contains all of the things that are unacceptable not only to society but also to one's own personal morals and values. It might include things such as envy, greed, prejudice, hate, and aggression.
The Anima or Animus
The anima is a feminine image in the male psyche, and the animus is a male image in the female psyche.5 The anima/animus represents the "true self" rather than the image we present to others and serves as the primary source of communication with the collective unconscious.
The Self
The self is an archetype that represents the unified unconsciousness and consciousness of an individual.
Creating the self occurs through a process known as individuation, in which the various aspects of personality are integrated. Jung believed that disharmony between the unconscious and the conscious mind could lead to psychological problems. Bringing these conflicts into awareness and accommodating them in conscious awareness was an important part of the individuation process.
