The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious

Archetypes are universal symbols, themes, and patterns of behavior shared across cultures and generations, such as the hero, the mother, or the wise old man. The collective unconscious is a shared layer of the mind containing these archetypes—an inherited mental reservoir that influences our perceptions, dreams, and myths without us being aware of it. Together, they suggest that beneath individual differences, humans are connected through shared symbolic patterns, shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world at a subconscious level.