What lurkes beneath the surface…

by Richard Reeve on April 7, 2009

in AziMuth

mask

“…I never spoke to a native woman, this being what was expected of me.  As in Southern Europe. men speak to men, women to women.  Anything else signifies love-making.” Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams and Reflections, pg 261

I love the implications of this quote because it points to a layer of instinctual tendency in societal discourse that remains underground for most of us most of the time.  Clearly, the rigid mores between the sexes that Jung was encountering on his travels into the interior of Africa early last century do not function for most of us.

Or do they?

Perhaps these cultural tendencies continue to thrive in the unconscious.  Perhaps they continue to drive us unawares…

What other “forgotten” cultural norms do you think might be operating in the unconscious?

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  • penina
    Can't resist a challenge.
    Another cultural norm is the perception of nature as our adversary—something to be conquered.
    And another is the tenet that to lead is to dominate. I suspect this is below the surface for both “leaders” and “followers”.

    <abbr>Penina´s last blog post..peninasharon: @KeithBurtis smart people and daily challenges: we choose both!</abbr>
  • Excellent example Penina,
    I think that is truly operative, and in the end we are in conflict with ourselves...
  • Luis Andrade
    Clearly, the rigid morays between the sexes that Jung was encountering on his travels into the interior of Africa early last century do not function for most of us.

    Or do they?


    Hmmm, perhaps my wife is channeling Jung and Granada, Spain, circa 1905... :-)
  • Now that's an interesting ponder Luis...
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