Synchronicity: A Glimpse of the Higher Power?
John Hart Young
Psychological Perspectives January 2, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/00332925.2023.2211002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Jung's concept of synchronicity, developed with physicist Wolfgang Pauli, is a meaningful acausal principle equal in explanatory rank to causality, and that discovering and sharing synchronicity experiences has supportive and transformative healing value in modalities from Alcoholics Anonymous to analytical psychology and indigenous-shamanic healing, potentially enhancing spiritual recovery from addictive process disorders and other maladies of postmodern life. |
Abstract
Carl Jung’s theory of synchronicity is defined by Jung as the “occurrence of a certain psychic state with one or more external events which appear as meaningful parallels to the momentary subjective state.” Fundamental to this proposal, developed with physicist Wolfgang Pauli, is the profound assertion that the acausal nature of synchronicity is “equal in rank to causality as a principle of explanation.” The epistemology of this concept is explored via the exposition of novel ideas and literature review. The supportive and transformative healing value of discovering and sharing a synchronicity experience is revealed in diverse psychotherapeutic modalities ranging from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to analytical psychology, and via indigenous-shamanic healing practices. Attention is also devoted to reporting the positive, possibly curative nature and attributes of synchronicities that enhance the spiritual aspect of recovery from addictive process disorders and other maladies of postmodern life.