The mother archetype is an idealized version of a mother that represents what humans want in a mother. It is used in storytelling, mythology, and psychology. Carl Jung believed it existed in children from infancy, while Sigmund Freud theorized it developed over time. Archetypal mothers are often linked to the idea of the Great Mother in mythology and tradition. The Cinderella tale represents two mother archetypes: the evil stepmother and the fairy godmother.
The mother archetype is basically an idealized or invented version of a mother who, in most cases, is meant to be more or less universal. Archetypes generally serve as standardized composites or templates of what a given role or identity is or, conversely, should be. When it comes to mothers, they are usually divided into several categories, each with heightened or enhanced attributes. The nurturer archetype, for example, might display all the best elements of caring and altruism, while the depiction of a mother who abandons her child is likely to have exaggerated flaws and complexes. The archetypal mother is commonly used as a dramatic element in storytelling, mythology and lore, and also plays an important role in psychology. Psychologists Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, in particular, have written extensively about how humans create their own motherhood archetypes and what this means for both human development and society as a whole.
Understanding of archetypes in general
In general, an archetype is a representative model or universal example of something. They are often seen as elements of the collective unconscious. This means that they are often symbols of nebulous spiritual needs that are projected onto other people to help people understand the world they live in. This creates characters that are akin to epitomes and stereotypes. Each is given characteristics that satisfy those needs, even if the real person is very different.
Consistent features
The mother archetype is an idealized version of the mother, meaning that she usually represents what humans want in a mother just like other archetypes represent values such as hero or villain. There are many elements that represent different aspects of being a mother, but some characteristics are more or less consistent. In most cases these figures are seen as persistent, stubborn, caring and patient. There is also almost always an intense bond between mother and child.
Jungian perspectives
Psychologist Carl Jung spent a lot of time considering the mother figure and what she represents for growing children. He believed that the mother archetype existed in the child from infancy. According to his theories, children project their maternal ideals onto the person they feel is their primary nurturer. A substitute, such as a nanny, grandmother, or day care worker, can be imbued with the same values as the real mother in the child’s eyes if that person does most of the care.
The archetype according to Freud
Sigmund Freud had a slightly different approach. He theorized that the archetype developed over time in layers, which some have compared to building a pizza. Following this analogy, the child first feels hungry and wants food. Then the child realizes that he has a craving for a particular type of food, in this example pizza. This then develops into more specialized needs like a pizza with salami, cheese, bacon and a host of other toppings. With the mother, this means a general need for an educator that develops into a need for specific qualities in the mother that are unique to the child’s situation.
Mothers in mythology and tradition
In mythology, archetypal mothers are often linked to the idea of the Great Mother. This includes Great Mother deities such as Gaia and Mother Earth. In this archetype, the mother nurtures not only the child, but all of creation or some element of nature. This type of healing is always reserved for a female deity. In many polytheistic religions, the mother forms a triumvirate along with the maiden and crone archetypes as the three stages of womanhood.
The Cinderella family tale represents two mother archetypes, the evil stepmother and the fairy godmother. The wicked stepmother represents a woman who is not the legitimate mother, but she is also not a nurse of the child. It is a projection of abandonment and the loss of a real mother in the child. The fairy godmother, by contrast, is a projection of a more benign and caring figure.
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