Quick summary: Young men looking for direction online keep meeting the same generic scripts that treat them as a group and leave the feeling of inner incompleteness untouched. Jungian psychology works differently because it starts from the fact that each person is born whole and later fragments while trying to fit in, so the real task is becoming whole again on individual terms. For mental health and well-being this means support should help men listen to their own unconscious rather than copy another ready made lifestyle.
If you spend any amount of time online these days, eventually you’ll run into an “influencer” who recently discovered the “secret” to how we should all live. Go down the rabbit hole long enough, and you’ll be inundated with social movements, philosophers, and old men telling you how to think.
If you’re a young man these days, chances are you’re confused about what to do with your life. Log on to social media, and you’ll hear terms like red pill, black pill, Stoicism, NEETs, etc. It seems like every other day, some dude shouts online about how he figured it all out. And let’s be honest: we’ve all fallen for one movement or another in the past. We’ve all tried the cold showers, journaling, and the millions of other things these “gurus” suggest. Newsflash: nothing really works. You’re still the same.
One of the interesting things to come out of this search for meaning has been the reintroduction of Jungian psychology to the modern age. One can particularly credit Jordan Peterson with popularizing Jung’s ideas for modern audiences. For those who might not be aware, Jungian psychology is a school of psychology based on the ideas of Carl Jung. It focuses on helping individuals become their true selves by integrating all parts of the mind into conscious life.
This sudden resurgence in Jungian psychology fits the broader pattern of men searching for answers. However, unlike the rest, Jungian psychology has something to offer. Many of the modern ideas being thrown around give men a specific script: work harder, control your emotions, hit the gym, etc.
And sure, none of that is bad advice in and of itself. It might even work for some of us. However, these ideas don’t address the source of the problem. All these fads treat people as a collective rather than as individuals. Instead, they propose one-size-fits-all solutions and expect results. And sure, some people might find those cold showers useful, but not all of us will.
This is where Jungian psychology really shines. Unlike these online fads, Jungian psychology never treats two people exactly alike. Jung’s approach to psychology was simple and powerful: we are all born whole, and through the trials of life, we become fragmented as we try to fit in. The goal of life, therefore, is to become whole again.
In other words, there is no single solution that will fit every man on Earth. Some of us will be called to fatherhood, others to build businesses, and others to pursue a more spiritual path. This is what sets Jungian psychology apart from other schools of thought. Go online, and men are constantly bombarded with nonstop calls to make money, sleep with numerous women, start families, or go to church.
Jung calls us to look deeper. We are challenged to question what our parents, culture, religion, and society have told us we are. Jung placed particular emphasis on dreams because he believed they contain messages from the unconscious mind and can often serve as some of our first steps toward discovering our true selves. Deep down, men know that something is missing. Where they go wrong is assuming the answer is somewhere out there. In reality, the answer is already within them; they simply have to learn how to listen.
Christopher Ramos is the founder and operations manager of Modern Man’s Quest.
