ABSTRACT
The chapter shifts from a more general discussion of interpretation to a specifically Jungian perspective on interpretation. The exploration begins with a differentiation between the concepts of consciousness and insight, and a brief review of Jung’s theory of complexes. This is followed by a Jungian approach to the interpretation of complexes, referred to as the “circumambulation of the complex,” which is contrasted with Freud’s concept of “the working-through” process. Following the discussion of complexes and interpretation, the focus shifts to the influence of archetypes, archetypal theory, and the collective unconscious on the interpretive process. Suggested exercises for the reader are also provided.
