animus

Gender & Personality Transformation. How might women approach their coaching, therapy or analysis? The anima is a psychoanalytic concept about how a man might approach his personality transformation through 'anima' psychological development. Now we look at the equivalent psychoanalytic concept of psychological development from a woman's perspective: 'animus'

Psychoanalytic thinking is based on empirical research about the human psyche specifically conscious-unconscious dynamics. The psychoanalytic approach aims to help a client reconcile opposing or negative dynamics in and between their conscious and unconscious mind within the context of what brings the individual to coaching, therapy or analysis.

In Jungian psychoanalytic thinking, the animus is an observable element in a woman's unconscious mind. A masculine, psychological opposite which functions from the unconscious. It is the inner figure of man held by a woman, just like the inner figure of woman (anima) at work in a man. The opposite of the individual's gender. 'A secondary, muted unconscious gender in the dominant gender identity of the individual' as quoted by Sulagna Sengupta in her book, 'Animus, Psyche and Culture', on my recommended reading lis thttps://www.nicholastoko.com/motivational-reading. Her book explores the relevance of the animus in the lived experience of women and examines its rationale in current contexts of gender fluidity. An insightful read for women and men!

The animus or unconscious gender is an essential attribute of a woman's psyche. When this element is repressed in the unconscious, it takes the form of an autonomous unconscious complex in the personality which erupts in irrational behaviour when it breaks through the conscious mind. The irrational behaviour is what might bring the individual to coaching, therapy or analysis.

The positive animus has certain characteristics: commitments, beliefs, inspirations. It is not about expressing 'masculine' stereotypes. Engaging the animus leads to creative possibilities and acts as an instrument of change.