Research in Analytical Psychology

Book excerpt: Research in Analytical Psychology: Empirical Research provides an original overview of empirical research in Analytical Psychology, focusing on quantitative and qualitative methods. This unique collection of chapters from an international range of contributors covers all the major concepts of Analytical Psychology and provides a strong empirical foundation. The book covers a wide range of concepts and fields, and is presented in five parts. Part I, Epistemological Foundations, looks at psychological empiricism and naturalism. Part II, Fundamental Concepts of Analytical Psychology, presents chapters on complexes, archetypes, dream interpretation, and image. Part III, Trauma, addresses neuroscience, dreams and infant observation research. Part IV, Psychotherapy and Psychotherapeutic Methods examines sandplay, picture interpretation, quality management and training. Finally, Part V, Synchronicity, contains chapters concerning the experience of psychophysical correlations and synchronistic experiences in psychotherapy. Each chapter provides an overview of research in the field and closes with general conclusions, and the book as a whole will enable practitioners to evaluate the empirical status of their concepts and methods and, where necessary, update them. It also presents the necessary material for a re-evaluation of the status of Analytical Psychology within the broader academic field, supporting a move back into the heart of current debates in psychology and psychotherapy. This book will be essential reading for analytical psychologists in practice and in training, academics and students of Analytical Psychology and post-Jungian ideas, and academics and students of other disciplines seeking to integrate methods from Analytical Psychology into their research. It is complemented by its companion volume, Research in Analytical Psychology: Applications from Scientific, Historical, and Cross-Cultural Research.