The Relationship of Representation and Archetypes

Our understanding of the world does not form on its own. It is shaped by many small influences around us, such as the stories we hear, the people we meet, and the ideas we grow up with. Two important elements that quietly guide how we see reality are representations and archetypes.

Representations show us how something is seen or understood, while archetypes give us deeper patterns that humans naturally recognize. Together, they help build the way we make sense of life, ourselves, and others around us.

Representations & Archetypes 

Representations are simply the ways we describe or picture something in our minds. They are formed through repeated ideas, shared beliefs, and everyday experiences. When something is represented in a certain way again and again, we begin to accept it as the usual or expected view. For example,  we often hear that a nerdy person is quiet, shy, or socially isolated, and this becomes the mental image we carry. They make complex things easier to understand, but they can also limit how we see people or situations by giving only one common picture.

On the other hand, archetypes are deeper and more universal. They are patterns of behavior or character types that appear across all cultures, such as the hero, the caregiver, or the wise elder. These patterns exist because they connect to basic human emotions and experiences. For example, most people understand the idea of a “heroic figure” even without being taught; it’s a natural template we recognize. They help us quickly understand roles and personalities because they speak to something shared and familiar in human nature.

Their Relationship and the Creation of Stereotypes

Representations often borrow from archetypes because archetypes provide simple, recognizable patterns. When this happens repeatedly, the two can blend in a way that creates stereotypes. A stereotype appears when an archetype becomes too fixed and is applied to real people without room for difference.

For example, if the “caregiver” archetype is constantly used to represent women, it can turn into a stereotype that all women must be gentle or nurturing. When representations keep using the same archetypal ideas, they can make these limited views feel normal, even if they are not true for everyone.

Recognizing how representations and archetypes work together helps us understand why certain ideas seem natural or normal. It also reminds us that these ideas are not fixed, and they are shaped by repeated patterns and can change. By becoming more aware and questioning the images and patterns we accept, we can avoid falling into stereotypes. This awareness encourages us to see people more fully, appreciate differences, and allow identities to be understood with more openness and depth.

Reference:

Bradshaw, S., & Storm, L. (2012). Archetypes, symbols and the apprehension of meaning. International Journal of Jungian Studies, 5(2), 154–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/19409052.2012.685662

Vedor, J. E. (2023). Revisiting Carl Jung’s archetype theory a psychobiological approach. Biosystems, 234, 105059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105059

 

Written by: Thrya Abdulraheem Motea Al-aqab

Edited by: Meigitaria Sanita