What is the relationship between fairy tales and psychology? What psychological theories have been used to better understand fairy tales? How did psychologists use fairy tales in psychotherapy?
Psychologists have been interested in discovering the reasons behind the power and significance of fairy tales. Although they may have been disregarded as some as mere children’s tales, psychologists realize that there is more to them than might otherwise reach the untrained eye.
According to Freud, fairy tales give us access to the unconscious desires and inner struggles. Certain elements can be translated to have a deeper meaning. In Freud’s case they tend to have sexual undertones and double entendres. Freud believes that, like dreams, fairy tales can give glimpses into to unconscious.
Carl Jung, on the other hand, found and analyzed the different archetypes in fairy tales. There are reoccurring roles that are filled and preformed in fairy stories. Some of the many he pointed out were: the Mother Role, the Wise Old Man, the Trickster, the Maiden, the Anima and the Animas, and the Shadow. He also employs the theory of the collective unconscious as to why so many fairytales are almost identical. We all undergo similar experiences as humans, and it is not coincidence but rather our collective unconscious that allows for this.
Psychologists use fairy tales in their therapy because almost everyone has a fairy tale with which they identify – even if they don’t know as to why. When asking their patients which ones they like now or as a child, it very often helps them get to the root of the problem, by finding out why the child (or adult) was/is drawn to that story.
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