Hero archetype, family stories

Much of my self-awareness came from observing my children grow older. Looking at them revives memories of my childhood and the influence family, friends, and community had on my formation.

In Jungian psychology, archetypes emerge from the collective unconscious. This is not exoteric or metaphysical, but simply how psyche perceives and responds to life experiences in general. Archetypes are unconscious in the sense that we all have them spread in the collective behavior, but not articulated consciously at the individual level. The archetype emerges as the basis for the construction of the diverse aspects of our personality. For Jung, archetypes included the Hero, Mother/Father, Witch/Senex, Child, Villain, Anima/Animus, Daimon, and Trickster.

Back to my parenting insight, I realize that the stories from family members, physical or psychological experiences in childhood, and traditions in communities become elements that give meaning to those unconscious archetypes, shaping how we define ourselves. For instance, in my childhood, the recollections of my grandmother and mother refer to a brave Garcia Sete Orelhas, who fought for justice, even if it meant using brute force. In the moral context of a religious family, I interpreted my great-grand-uncle’s deeds in a benign light, shaping my Hero archetype, which embodies courage, strength, and a search for meaning.

Why is this relevant? The insight above is just one example of how identities are formed, from childhood into adulthood. It shows how family and community experiences shape future citizens and professionals. I now see many correlations between my present behavior and attitude and the myths I heard from the heroes or tricksters I cohabited in my own family and community. The stories of influential figures in my life shaped the archetypes I now embody as an adult.

In an era of vague moral references, the dialogue with kids is essential to form their references. Although unconscious, the symbols formed from experiences with their closest community are vital to a healthy personality. Don’t outsource this task to social media and online surreal archetypes. Personalities in development need attention and protection.

For those managing people, observing how the Hero, Father, Mother, and Trickster archetypes manifest individually helps you understand motivation, engagement, and conflict in the workplace. Archetypes are the source of energy in personalities. Once you identify how and when archetypes emerge, you unlock the potential to read people. How you use this superpower will highly depend on your Hero and Mother archetype constitution. In my case, I feel even more responsible. Thanks to my family myths.