Dr. Jung walks over to the table, picks up the coffee carafe and refills Mitch’s cup. He responds to Mitch’s question:
“Your feelings are totally appropriate. These feelings no doubt provide some additional energy for you when working with Gwen. She probably also feels something for you. The old-time psychoanalysts used the term, “sublimation” when describing how we convert unacceptable impulses into acceptable and productive energy. . . It is just a matter of acknowledging to yourself that you have these feelings and that you might be viewing Gwen partly through the eyes of your unconscious psychic theater. You must be careful not to begin taking on the role of a character in this ongoing theatrical production. In short, you have to avoid being captured in the thralls of your anima and being driven by and enacting nothing but your own primitive, masculine animus.”
Mitch reacts to Dr. Jung’s statement:
“Wow. That is quite a warning you are offering me. I will have to think long and hard about the way in which I interact with Gwen. I know my wife is a bit jealous regarding my relationship with Gwen. Perhaps she senses a bit of what I am feeling.”
Dr. Jung offers a word of restraint:
“I would not get too worried about your relationship with Gwen. For what you have told me up to this point, you are doing a fine job of bringing in Gwen’s expertise regarding technology and strategic planning. . . . However, your strong pull toward Gwen might have an impact on your relationship with Frank.”
At this point, Dr. Jung brings in the dynamics associated with the masculine animus as it operates in the psyche of men. Dr. Jung offers the following insight for Mitch to consider:
“When it comes to your relationship with Frank, there is another powerful, often unconscious dynamic operating. When interacting with other men, we can often get a bit competitive with them. This is our animus in operation. While your relationship with Frank may have been forged on an anvil of mutual commitment that is heated by the animus operating in both of you, the relationship might also have included some push on the part of both of you to somehow end up superior. On the positive side, this could mean coming up with a bright new idea, such as the use of robotics in the production of newspapers. On the negative side, this could produce envy and anger on the part of Frank if he sees you winning out in moving to a digital format for your newspaper. And being successful with the assistance of a woman only makes things worse.”
Mitch is silent for a minute. He then speaks up:
“You could be right about all of this crazy, primitive stuff happening in my relationship with Frank and Gwen. One of my favorite musicals is Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot. There is an eventually strained relationship between King Arthur, Gwenevere and Lancelot. In this case, Gwenevere and Lancelot come together and leave Arthur alone. In my case, it is Frank who is left alone. . . .”
Dr. Jung offers some encouragement:
“Your use of Broadway Musicals is very appropriate. The anima and animus are often vividly on display in these musicals. That is why they are so popular even though unrealistic. No one breaks into song in the middle of a challenging situation. However, the song can represent deeply felt emotions, which are experienced in the middle of a challenging situation.”
