collective unconscious

noun

1. (in Jungian psychology) inborn unconscious psychic material common to humankind, accumulated by the experience of all preceding generations.

collective unconscious

noun

1. psychol (in Jungian psychological theory) a part of the unconscious mind incorporating patterns of memories, instincts, and experiences common to all mankind. These patterns are inherited, may be arranged into archetypes, and are observable through their effects on dreams, behaviour, etc

collective unconscious

1. Memories of mental patterns that are shared by members of a single culture or, more broadly, by all human beings; originally proposed by the psychologist Carl Jung to explain psychological traits shared by all people. He theorized that the collective unconscious appears as archetypes : patterns and symbols (see also symbol ) that occur in dreams, mythology , and fairy tales.

Word History and Origins

Origin of collective unconscious¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

“I try to tune in to a collective unconscious, as close as I can get at it,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

In a collective unconscious sort of way, popular culture has a spiritual element to it.

From The Daily Beast

Jung argued that horror touches on primordial images in the collective unconscious.

From The Daily Beast

So this is the story that has emerged from our collective unconscious?

From Project Gutenberg

This fear is a demoniac fear of the dominants of the collective unconscious.

From Project Gutenberg