What you will receive:

• 4 Live Webinar Sessions with Q & A
• 4 Links to the Recordings
• 4 CEC’s

Course Description

This on-line series explores the fragility of self in the ‘As-If’ Personality, the popularly termed imposter syndrome and the illusions about themselves and others. The ‘as-if’ person is both the mirror and the mask, presenting a self in artifice, often associated with narcissism. Known for a slickly contrived persona/ego image, behind it the ‘as-if’ person withdraws into fantasy and illusionary worlds. The self-isolation, loneliness, although hidden behind veils and facade, hurts. The issues affect intimacy with oneself and others due to the difficulty being present and the tendency to singularity. The topics encompass not belonging, sexual addiction, aging, the cultural influence of social media, the role of the father and mother, body image and the dissociation of split selves. All these are promoted by the culture of social media where reality and illusion are often blurred. These complex aspects are explored through composite clinical examples, dreams and a fairytale as we seek to ground this elusive personality type. The purpose of exploring the ‘as-if’ and imposter personality is to nurture awareness to find what can be replenishing and regenerative to the person and culture.

The presentation welcomes clinical examples from participants for discussion.

 

This Course is Ideal If:

You are interested in:

• Identifying aspects of the ‘as-if’ personality according to the schema of Jungian analytical psychology
• Gaining awareness of Jungian therapeutic/analytical work with this personality type
• Exploring analytical defenses like psychic retreat, false self, and ‘as-if’ for expanding the personality
• Defining the ‘As-If’ Personality
• Tracing the Imposter Syndrome through the fairytale journey
• Examining the Jungian approach to narcissism
• Exploring the mythology of Narcissus and Echo

Course Overview:

Week One:      Defining aspects of the ‘As-If’ Personality in Jungian terminology

Week Two:      Analyzing a fairytale to explore the Imposter Syndrome and ‘As-If’ Personality

Week Three:   Components of the narcissistic personality in Jungian parlance

Week Four:     Narcissus and Echo as aspects of the personality and the loss oftheir bodies

By the End of This Course You Will Be Able To:

• Examine the characteristics defining the Jungian concept of narcissism
• Trace the mis-attunements and early familial wounds shaping this personality aspect
• Describe the shadow and neglected aspects of the imposter personality type adversely affecting relationship to self and others
• Identify insights into the manifestation and possible transformation in Jungian analytical/therapeutic treatment

Course Addendums:

Bibliography, Reading List, PDFs, Creative Prompts/Reflective Questions, Films to Watch

Connolly, A. (2013). Out of the body: embodiment and its vicissitudes. Journal of

         Analytical Psychology. 58, 5. pp. 636-656.

Hillman, J. (1989). Puer Papers. Dallas: Spring Publications.

Jung, C.G. (1909/1969). The significance of the Father in the Destiny of the Individual.

Collected Works 4. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Jung, C.G. (1938/1954). Psychological aspects of the mother archetype.

Collected Works 9i. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Jung, C.G. (1931). The aims of psychotherapy.

Collected Works 16. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Meredith-Owen, W. (2011). Jung’s shadow: negation and narcissism of the Self. Journal

         of Analytical Psychology. 56, pp.674–691.

Mollon, P. (1994). The Fragile Self: The Structure of Narcissistic Disturbance.

London: Whurr Pub Ltd.

Ovid. The Metamorphoses of Ovid. Trans. Allen Mandelbaum. San Diego, New

York, London: Harcourt, Inc., 1993

Schwartz-Salant, N. (1982). Narcissism and Character Transformation: The Psychology

        of Narcissistic Character Disorders. Toronto: Inner City Books.

Solomon, H. (2004). “Self creation and the limitless void of dissociation: the as if

personality,” Journal of Analytical Psychology, 49: 635-656.

Solomon, H. (2007). The Self in Transformation. London: Karnac.

von Franz. M.L.(1996).  Interpretation of Fairytales. Toronto: Inner City Press