complex
Definition:
A complex is an emotionally charged group of thoughts, memories, and perceptions organised around a central theme, often rooted in unresolved conflicts. Complexes can influence behaviour and perception, often operating outside of conscious awareness, and are marked by affect whether a person is conscious of them or not.
You might be aware of the phrase, having a complex, said in response to an individuals behaviour which is seen as irrational and originating from an inner, mental drama which is unrelated to the actual situation. You might even be aware of having a complex because of a persons behaviour towards you. A complex is a deep-seated, unconscious pattern of behaviour involving thoughts, feelings, emotions, and memories that distort how you might view yourself and/or react to the outer world.
The psychoanalytic definition is ‘a complex is a collection of images and ideas, clustered round a core derived from one or more archetypes, and characterised by a common emotional tone’. When they come into play (become ‘constellated’), complexes contribute to behaviour and are marked by affect whether a person is conscious of them or not (Samuels, Shorter and Plaut).
Complexes develop as a result of an individual’s interactions with their inner and outer world throughout their life time. There is some kind of emotional ‘collision’ between the two worlds which creates a complex. They are particularly useful in the analysis of emotional issues in coaching, therapy and analysis.
The ‘coming into play’ hints at their autonomous nature. Complexes are perfectly natural though. They have positive and negative qualities. However, it is the negative quality which can lead to problems at an individual and organisational level, hence, the term ‘the neurotic organisation’. Complexes in organisations can impede or hinder business success.
The autonomous nature of complexes also hints at their unconscious nature. You might be unaware of a complex operating within and outside of you. The negative quality colours actual reality. The dynamic is caused by who you consciously think of as ‘you’, a conscious, positive complex (ego) in conflict with an unconscious, negative complex. This dynamic contributes to irrational behaviour.
Coaching, therapy or analysis promotes a viable relationship between the ego and the complex to curb its effect on oneself and others. If the relationship is consistent then the path opens up to a transformation of the personality.
The upcoming blog in the series, The Neurotic Organisation, explores the negative complex ‘constellated’ at work through management style and employee-manager attachment styles.
Example:
Complexes are particularly useful in the analysis of neurotic symptoms. A complex is a structure in the unconscious that's formed when emotions, memories, perceptions, and wishes are grouped together in response to a threat to the self. Identifying and working through complexes allows clients to uncover repressed emotions, resolve inner conflicts, and regain control over unconscious influences. Complexes may have elements from a personal and collective unconscious.
