Symbol = an object that stands for something else, generally an intangible, ideal, or abstract concept.
For instance, a flag is a symbol that stands for the idea of a country. A Star of David is a symbol for the Jewish faith, while the cross is a symbol of Christ’s passion and death.
Symbols require prior learning in order to be fully processed.
One must have certain pre-learned information in order to understand a symbol fully. To Romans before Christ, the cross was a sign of shame; only the worst criminals were executed by crucifixion. Since the spread of Christianity, the cross has become a revered symbol of sacrifice. In both cases, culture supplied the context for an understanding of the symbol of the cross. In the same way, the swastika was a symbol of fire and fertility in Native American culture. The swastika only acquired its current negative symbolism when the Nazis of Germany used it.
Archetypes = patterns that exist in the ‘collective unconscious’ of people in every place and time.
Archetypes need not be learned; all people seem to share the understanding and awareness of these patterns. Some common archetypes include the following: stores (myth, legend, and stories on specific themes such as Cinderella); types of people (heroes, villains, etc.); shapes, numbers, nature. **Archetypes are always symbols, but not all symbols are archetypes ** For instance, the Democratic Donkey is certainly a symbol of the political party, but it is not an archetype.
Many of the concepts embodied in archetypes may be expressed through this phrase: “it’s not fair!” For some reason, we all seem to have a pre-conceived idea of what is or is not “fair.” Humans seem to expect each other to conform to an understood standard of behavior.
Symbol = an object that stands for something else, generally an intangible, ideal, or abstract concept.
For instance, a flag is a symbol that stands for the idea of a country. A Star of David is a symbol for the Jewish faith, while the cross is a symbol of Christ’s passion and death.
Symbols require prior learning in order to be fully processed.
One must have certain pre-learned information in order to understand a symbol fully. To Romans before Christ, the cross was a sign of shame; only the worst criminals were executed by crucifixion. Since the spread of Christianity, the cross has become a revered symbol of sacrifice. In both cases, culture supplied the context for an understanding of the symbol of the cross. In the same way, the swastika was a symbol of fire and fertility in Native American culture. The swastika only acquired its current negative symbolism when the Nazis of Germany used it.
Archetypes = patterns that exist in the ‘collective unconscious’ of people in every place and time.
Archetypes need not be learned; all people seem to share the understanding and awareness of these patterns. Some common archetypes include the following: stores (myth, legend, and stories on specific themes such as Cinderella); types of people (heroes, villains, etc.); shapes, numbers, nature. **Archetypes are always symbols, but not all symbols are archetypes ** For instance, the Democratic Donkey is certainly a symbol of the political party, but it is not an archetype.
Many of the concepts embodied in archetypes may be expressed through this phrase: “it’s not fair!” For some reason, we all seem to have a pre-conceived idea of what is or is not “fair.” Humans seem to expect each other to conform to an understood standard of behavior.