What are archetypes?
A Brief Explanation
An archetype is a fundamental aspect of human nature. It’s like an instinct, only psychological instead of biological.
Sounds simple. But we are not simple creatures. Because human nature is multifaceted, complex, and dynamic, we cannot rely on simple concepts and concrete categories to describe it. The rich, dynamic language of archetypes allows us to describe the human condition without being reductive.
Archetypes are dynamic psychic patterns innate to all humans. They organize perception and motivate behavior according to certain fundamental orientations to oneself, to one’s environment, and to other living beings.
For example
The hero archetype is oriented to long-term goals.
The mother archetype is oriented toward the bonds that ground us in place, time, and society.
The death archetype is oriented toward the loss of an aspect or symbol of identity.