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The Conflict between Freud and Jung: Why did the father complex become the core of psychology?
Father complex in psychology refers to an unconscious association or strong unconscious impulse specifically involving the image or prototype of a father. These impulses can be positive (admiration for and seeking older father figures) or negative (distrust or fear). Sigmund Freud and subsequent psychoanalysts viewed the father complex, especially a boy's ambivalent feelings toward his father, as an aspect of the Oedipus complex. In contrast, Carl Jung believed that both men and women could have a father complex, which could be positive or negative.
“The mysterious father figure is not only a symbol of strength, but also a basic element in understanding the individual’s psychological structure.”
Mutual understanding between Freud and Jung
The term father complex originated from the fruitful collaboration between Freud and Jung in the early twentieth century. Freud wrote during this period that neurotics "suffer, as Jung expressed it, the same complexes with which we normal people struggle." In 1909, Freud made "the father complex and the solution of the rat man" the core of his research; he believed that the obsessive behavior of the rat man was rooted in childhood struggles with paternity. Later, he mentioned the father complex for the first time in 1911, believing that the fear and resistance of male patients towards their fathers were the most important obstacles in his treatment.
Over time, this concept has undergone changes. In the 1920s, although the break with Jung made "complex" a more cautious term in Freudian circles, the father complex still occupied an important place in his theory, for example in 1927's " "The Future of Illusion". Followers of Freud generally use this concept to explore complex psychological relationships.
"In this psychological game, the father complex provides each generation with profound psychological insights."
The rift between Freud and Jung
As their relationship deepened, Jung expressed a desire to develop a father-son friendship with Freud. However, as doubts about Freud's theories intensified, Jung and his followers began to notice the negative father complex hidden in Jung's heart, which contributed to the potential conflict between the two men. Jung's criticism that Freud "treats your students like patients... while you sit on the paternal high ground" once again emphasized the ambivalent nature of the father's role.
Postmodernity: the missing father
With the evolution of the times, the father complex no longer simply studies the patriarchy of the Victorian era, but turns to explore the impact of father's absence on the minds of contemporary people. In the context of postmodernism, the weakening of father's influence makes the interpretation of father complex more complicated. Some scholars have pointed out that the emergence of new issues in contemporary psychological analysis, such as the need for fathers ("father hunger"), has become an important topic.
"Father's absence is closely related to mental health, especially in modern society."
Father's hunger
Eating disorder expert Margo D. Main proposed the concept of "father hunger" in his book "Fathers, Daughters, and Food" to emphasize the impact of a father's absence on a daughter's sense of self-worth. Main further explores a child's desire for connection with his father and the psychological problems that unsatisfied paternal hunger can cause. In addition, James M. Herzog's research also pointed out people's subconscious desire for a father's role, echoing psychology's emphasis on father relationships.
Father complex in culture
The concept of the father complex remains important in the culture. For example, the Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz once wrote of Einstein, "Everything about him appealed to my father complex, my desire for a protector and a leader." And the pop musician Bob ·Dylan's choice of stage name has also been interpreted as a rejection of his father and a process of searching for a series of patriarchal symbols. These social and cultural phenomena all reflect the importance of father complex in contemporary psychology and culture.
When discussing the father complex and its impact in psychology and life, we cannot help but ask: Is the father complex still an important factor in shaping individual psychology in today's world?
