Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and former follower of Freud, eventually broke away from Freud's ideas to create his framework, analytical psychology. This approach emphasizes achieving a balance between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind and reconciling various experiences within an individual's personality. Jung believed that this process, which typically unfolds in the latter part of life, involves an ongoing journey of recognizing and incorporating unconscious elements into one's conscious awareness.

Carl Jung expanded on Sigmund Freud's concept of the unconscious by introducing the idea of the collective unconscious, a deeper, shared layer of the unconscious mind. Unlike Freud's personal unconscious, which consists of individual repressed memories and experiences, Jung's collective unconscious is a universal, impersonal layer shared by all human beings. According to Jung, this collective unconscious is the result of humanity's shared ancestral past and influences behavior and cultural phenomena across generations.

Jung believed that the collective unconscious is composed of archetypes — universal symbols and images that hold deep emotional significance. These archetypes are inherited memories passed down from ancestors and manifested in myths, legends, and cultural traditions around the world. They explain why different cultures often share similar stories and symbols despite geographical and historical differences. Examples of common archetypes include the mother, symbolizing nurturing, and the hero, representing bravery and self-sacrifice. Jung also identified the mandala — a circular symbol representing unity or wholeness — as a key archetype within the collective unconscious.

Jung suggested that archetypes appear not only in myths and legends but also in dreams, art, and religious experiences. The persona archetype, for example, represents the social mask individuals wear to navigate interactions with others. Other archetypes include the anima and animus, which represent the feminine and masculine aspects of personality, respectively. Jung argued that these archetypes guide how individuals relate to themselves and society, shaping emotional reactions and behaviors across cultures. While Jung's ideas, including practices like Jungian sand play therapy, have not been empirically validated, they continue to influence psychological and cultural studies.