Jung, Carl Gustav (1875–1961)

Life Dates

C.G. Jung is considered to be a major figure in twentieth century thought and has played an important role in the establishment of modern psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. He was born in Switzerland in 1875, qualified as a medical doctor in 1900, and worked at a psychiatric hospital while developing his early ideas on free association techniques and analytical psychology. In 1903, he became an associate of Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), but became disillusioned with Freud’s views on psychoanalysis and they ceased contact in 1913.

During his life, Jung maintained strong interests in philosophy, theology, the occult, astrology, and alchemy. He traveled extensively and came into contact with eastern religions, which further strengthened his belief in spirituality and the importance of the unconscious in the human psyche. Jung held professorships in Zurich (1931–1941) and Basel (1944–1961) and was awarded numerous doctorates and other honors during his life. Interest in...