Anima / Animus

Anima and Animus (Latin anima — "soul", animus — "spirit") are paired archetypes of Carl Jung's analytical psychology ("Die Beziehungen zwischen dem Ich und dem Unbewussten", 1928): the contrasexual aspects of the psyche.

Anima

The feminine archetype in the man. Anima is the unconscious feminine archetype in the male psyche. It manifests as the inner image of femininity: muse, beloved, witch, goddess.

Four stages of Anima's development (Jung): Eve → Helen → Mary → Sophia.

Animus

The masculine archetype in the woman. Animus is the unconscious masculine archetype in the female psyche. It manifests as the inner voice of judgment, opinions, convictions.

Four stages of Animus's development: Athlete → Warrior/Strategist → Orator/Sage → Hero of Spirit.

Function — Intermediary

Between consciousness and the unconscious. Anima / Animus plays the role of "intermediary" between consciousness and the unconscious.

Projections

Onto real people. An unintegrated Anima is projected onto real women (idealization or demonization); an unintegrated Animus — onto real men.

The Second Stage of Individuation

After work with the Shadow. Integration of Anima/Animus is the second stage of individuation after working with the Shadow.

Contemporary Revision

Beyond the gender binary. Contemporary Jungian psychology revises the gender binary of the model, recognizing the presence of both archetypes in every person regardless of sex.