archetype
AHR-ki-type
/ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/
A primitive mental image, universal concept, or recurrent symbol inherited from early human experience.
Refers to universal, inherited motifs in Jungian psychology or timeless prototypes in myth and literature.
The story behind the word. From Ancient Greek 'arkhe-' (first or original) and 'typos' (model or impression). Carl Jung adapted the term to describe universal images residing in what he termed the collective unconscious.
Word relationships
- prototype: A prototype is a original physical model, whereas an archetype is a universal symbolic pattern.
- embodiment: An embodiment is a concrete instance of a quality, while an archetype is a deep psychological pattern.
- anomaly: An anomaly is a unique departure from a rule, whereas an archetype represents a universal recurrence.
Commonly confused with
- stereotype: A stereotype is an oversimplified social generalization; an archetype is a deep, recurring psychological motif.
Word family
- archetypal (adjective): Relating to or constituting an archetype.
- archetypically (adverb): In a manner characteristic of an archetype.
Collocations
- archetype of the hero
- Jungian archetype
- universal archetype
- cultural archetype
Example sentences
- "Carl Jung proposed that the archetype of the Wise Old Man appears across cultures in myths, dreams, and fairy tales." Jungian Psychology
- "In her analysis of heroic literature, she identified the protagonist as a classic expression of the hero archetype." Literary Criticism
Memory hook
Think of an ARCH built long ago as the original TYPE of structure that every subsequent builder copied. ARCH + TYPE = original architect's blueprint.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a simple modern cliché or stereotype; an archetype represents an ancient, fundamental human pattern.
Fun facts
- Carl Jung believed archetypes explain why totally isolated ancient civilizations created almost identical myths about dragons and heroes.
Related words
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