Szondi's Fate Analysis and the Familial Unconscious

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Léopold Szondi's theories on depth psychology, the three levels of the unconscious, and the mechanics of fate analysis.

Familial Unconscious

Introduced by Szondi as a third kind of unconscious, next to Freud's personal and Jung's collective unconscious, containing ancestral drives and hereditary genetics.

Compulsory Fate

Lifestyle choices and patterns determined by hereditary tendencies and ancestral drives within the familial unconscious.

Selective Fate

A fate where the individual ego and spirit choose from possible ancestral drives to move toward a unique personal pattern.

Genogram

A family tree used to trace hereditary patterns, ancestral drives, and inherited elements across generations.

Genotropism

Szondi's fate-analytical object-choice theory stating that genetically similar individuals mutually attract each other regarding partners, friends, professions, and even illnesses.

Anancology

A concept within fate analysis stating that while the familial unconscious contains pattern possibilities, the individual is free to choose or create their own unique pattern via the ego.

Pontifex oppositorium

Also known as the Pontifex ego; a higher instance of the psyche that acts as a bridge connecting instincts with the spirit and integrating opposites.

Personal Fate

The dialectical coexistence of compulsive fate and selective fate as they exist together and move against each other throughout life.

Sexual Drive ($S$)

One of the four drives in Szondi's system, consisting of the needs for love ($h$) and sadism/masochism ($s$).

Paroxysmal Drive ($P$)

A drive involving the needs of morals ($e$) and ethics/showing oneself ($hy$).

Schizoform Drive ($Sch$)

Also known as the Ego-drive, involving tendencies such as catatonia ($k$) and paranoia ($p$).

Circular Drive ($C$)

Also known as the Contact drive, involving tendencies related to depression ($d$) and mania ($m$).

Szondi Test

A projective test developed around $1935$ using $48$ pictures of mentally ill patients to identify drive syndromes and personality traits.

Two-profile

A profile within the Szondi Test used to determine an individual's current psychic state.

Ten-profile

A profile within the Szondi Test used to identify permanent personality traits.

Compulsive Fate Forces

The first four determining forces in Anancology: Heredity, Drive structure, Social environment, and Mental environment.

Selective Fate Forces

The fifth and sixth determining forces in Anancology: Ego and Spirit.