ABSTRACT
Psyche enjoys a prominent but peculiar presence in the public spaces of our societies through a host of words that build on the term. The term "Psyche" originated in ancient Greek culture and is used synonymously with soul and self. But the term has also become associated with meanings that are quite removed from the original sentiment. The changing awareness of Psyche and soma coincided with new-found appreciation for the agonies of erotic desire. The notion of the Psyche recognised that all living things had individuality. The conceptual and philosophical framework of the Psyche created by classic Greek thinkers is intrinsically pluralistic. In contemporary depth-psychology, the term "Psyche" refers to the forces in an individual that influence thought, behaviour, and personality. Psyche, soma, and Agora, our social world, are inextricably bound to one another. The tensions and fault-lines between societal and personal realms are complex and multidimensional.
