The Shadow Psyche in Leadership & Decision-making: Impact on Conflict, Collective Consciousness & Evolutionary Progress in Humans
Rose-Marie Boylan
Brain and Neurological Disorders June 30, 2023 DOI: 10.31579/2642-973x/062 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that unconscious, repressed aspects of the self—what Jung called the shadow—drive harmful behavior and cannot be corrected without intentionally directed self-awareness and an intention to change; when a shadow is rewarded for deviance and remains unconscious, the author contends it is likely to erupt in unaware actions and decisions. |
Abstract
Everyone carries a shadow. The less embodied the individual is in their conscious life, the blacker and denser the shadow is according to Carl Jung. If a liability, inferiority or ego-based ideology is conscious through self-awareness, an individual may correct it. However, if it is an invisible, repressed and isolated from consciousness; the lower the chances of correction. Amending the shadow from acting out with cruelty,harm or indifference with their actions,behaviours and belief systems is virtually impossible without intentionally directedself-awareness and intention to change. If theshadow is rewarded for deviance and left unconscious, it never becomes corrected and is likely to erupt in a moment of unawareness in actions and decision-making.