Comments on: The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Boyhood Archetypes (Part I)

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:49:29 +0000

Thanks, Brett. I discovered this series at just the right time, as I’ve recently begun a program of self-analysis in order to grow as a person. Throughout my life, I’ve been one of the dreaded Nice Guys, seeking approval from others in order to attempt to make up for my lack of self-confidence. Fortunately, I’ve been given the tools to change myself from within.

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:43:59 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve delved into Jungian theory. This article provides an interesting perspective on the modern male dilemma of arrested development inflicting so many boy/men in their twenties. This is a good platform to not only develop our own masculinity but to develop those of our children as well.

“What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?”

-Plato

By: Mauro ramirez

Mauro ramirez — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:59:15 +0000

I´ve been using Jung theories to achieve my individuation too. I´m the son of a tyrant father and who buried his masculinity during the childhood, I grew incomplete in search of my real self. I naively projected all this inner material in homosexual encounters, which left me more empty and confused. I was never understood by my peers, nor I understood them. Masculinity became in something estrange and neglected. I knew that homosexual desires were just longings of finding my masculine-self in other men. It was just running away. Now, I´m trying to build my life with all this broken pieces in my hands. Thanks for the article.

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:21:49 +0000

Good God I love these articles. I’m a huge fan of Jungian psychology and have been actively working toward individuation for some time now. I already loved this site, and now I love it even more. Can’t wait for the next one!

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:50:58 +0000

One of the main things that struck me is the part about bipolar. I’m a fan of natural remedies over man made cures any day. When it comes to psychology, I favor redefininga piece of your inner self over taking a pill to fix the issue. One that I constantly battle with is bipolar disorder. Taking medication only works for so long, and then nothing.

From reading this article, I am starting to wonder almost to the point of blind convincement, that in order to beat bipolar disorder all I have to do is develope the extremes of each boyish archetype, incorporate them and find a healthy balance, develope the mature archetype, find the same balance, and then find a balance between the boyish and mature archetypes. That sounds like a lot of trouble, but nothing in a man’s life that was easy was worth hanging on to.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:49:37 +0000

im kinda scared of finding out about this archetype. but i think i am on the negative side of the archetype. me growing up is a disaster. im making up for it through deceiving others and feeling superior to others. which i think is wrong. that’s why i devote my self to learning more and growing up emotionally and physically so that i wont get stuck as a helpless little boy.

By: The Young at Heart

The Young at Heart — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:03:37 +0000

thank you so much. i struggle a lot in my daily relationships. there are a lot of growing pains. reading this article, i’m identifying a big part of myself with the first of the bipolar shadow parts of these archetypes. it’ll help me be aware of my bad habits and keep myself under control.

By: Steve C

Steve C — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:17:24 +0000

Well done, Brett. I read KWML many years ago as a young man. I believe I still have it somewhere in my library. Jung’s approach to psychology is much more akin to religion/ spirituality/ wisdom than to contemporary psychology. That is where it’s value lies. I found Jung’s concepts to be a wonderful translation into contemporary language of ancient wisdom about human nature. I spent nearly 20 years studying Jungian “psychology” and have found it tremendously insightful. It has been a great help to me in understanding what it means to be a man.

Many of you who post here at AOM are still young men searching for your masculine identity. I can remember when I was in your shoes. Unfortunately, the surrounding social environment has become much more hostile to healthy manhood than when I was young. Becoming a man has never been easy, but society used to support this journey better. It was much easier for older men to pass on manliness to younger men; not so much any more. Nevertheless, it is a journey you must take. Being a man is great and wonderful gift that is as precious as life itself. It is well worth the lifetime of effort that goes into realizing that gift.

So, pick up wisdom wherever you can find it. Reflect on what true manhood means. Then go do manly things. AOM is a good place to start.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:20:51 +0000

I’m so glad I found this website. I’m going to start sharing it with more than my best friend, dad, and little brother once I expand my network a little further. I can see plenty of examples of both shadows from both archetypes in my past, mainly from 16 to where I am currently at 22. I cannot give thanks enough for the mentoring and non authoritarian vibe running through this whole site.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:16:55 +0000

I don’t know how many times I keep reading this post. It’s 4:16AM and I decided to order this book.