Using Jungian Psychology in Screenwriting and Fiction: Part 2 Parts Based Therapies

by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Apr 8, 2024 | 0 comments

Unveiling the Layers of the Self: Parts-Based Therapies in Psychotherapy and Fiction

Main Points and Key Ideas:

1. Parts-based therapies view the human psyche as composed of multiple sub-personalities or “parts,” each with its own perspective, emotions, and coping mechanisms.

2. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy categorizes parts into exiles, managers, and firefighters, aiming to develop a compassionate relationship with these parts.

3. Voice Dialogue therapy focuses on identifying and dialoguing with different “selves” within the psyche to gain self-awareness and understanding.

4. The Jungian concept of the shadow represents repressed or denied aspects of ourselves that we find unacceptable.

5. Process-Oriented Psychology emphasizes exploring the underlying “process” of human experience, including subtle signals, sensations, and dreams.

6. These therapeutic approaches can be applied to character development in fiction writing to create more complex, authentic, and emotionally resonant characters.

7. Writers can use techniques such as identifying characters’ parts, exploring the origins and functions of these parts, and showing character growth through increased self-awareness.

8. Applying parts-based therapy concepts to dialogue can create more dynamic and psychologically rich exchanges between characters.

9. The integration of psychological insights into fiction writing can lead to more compelling storytelling and deeper connections with readers.

10. Various other parts-based therapy approaches, such as Psychosynthesis, Gestalt Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, offer additional tools for understanding and portraying complex characters.

Psychology as Character

I talk about the realities of teenage life and childhood in therapy often, not because I work with children or adolescents, but because all adults have had a childhood. Most therapists disagree on how exactly childhood affects us, but they all agree that it does. Every psychology 101 textbook starts with a discussion of Freud and his psychodynamic theory of development. They have to. Freud is the originator of psychotherapy, and love him or hate him, you have to understand the origin of the profession to be part of it.

Psychoanalytic thought’s core principle is that the self is comprised of three parts: an unconscious, self-centered, aggressive drive called the id; a semi-conscious superego set of moral rules; and a conscious ego that negotiates with the drives to dictate behavior. For Freud, the sexual drive is the core motivation beneath our aggressive id and the primary influence on the development of the child.

Freud’s psychology understands child development through the lenses of sexuality, inferiority, and aggression. Freud was an easy man to become close with and a hard man to stay close with. His biography is littered with close friends and mentors he later became vehemently at odds with. Freud excelled at breaking down others’ defenses, becoming close with them, and then feeling betrayed and abandoning them. These seductive and combative tendencies are mirrored in Freud’s theories of development. I am of the opinion that Freud’s theories are not wrong exactly, but instead describe a particular type of psychology—namely, his own.

Before we dive too deeply into the history of psychodynamic thought as a tool for character writing, let’s consider Freud himself as a character. Most authors would agree that complexity of character in fiction is important. We recognize that one-dimensional characters are bad, but what is it that gives a character complexity? Characters can have multiple motivations, a history that informs their motives, and feel conflicted in motivation. But how is it that we, as authors, can find that complexity of character in a realistic way? The key to this realism in fiction is also the key to understanding the biography of Freud.

In therapy, I often tell patients, “We learn what makes us lovable from the parent of the opposite sex, but we learn how to be in the world by the parent of the same sex.” The point in therapy when we discuss the effect that parents have on our personality is a dramatic turning point for many patients’ understanding of themselves. I see this dynamic play out over and over in therapy. It explains to siblings why the other children in the family are so similar and yet so different from them. Parents change over the course of a childhood too, and sometimes the parent who raises one child is not the same parent that raises the next.

The parent of the opposite sex gives us our reason for being; they tell us what to value and what it means to be good. The parent of the same sex informs the way that we live and what we think the “rules” of how to live life are. “You taught me to work hard, look how hard I am working. You showed me that life is service to others, look how I help the vulnerable.” We are trying to say these things to our parents, trying to be here, before we know that we are speaking.

Often, this dynamic leads to a contest for the parent of the opposite sex’s affection in childhood, as Freud’s theories observed. “I am compassionate like you, but I work harder than him. I am funny and clever like you like, but I am passive like her, more beautiful and passive even.” Freud saw this aggressive drive for competition with our parents as a competition for sexual attention, but it is more simply understood as just a contest for attention.

We rely on the attention of our parents for survival so late into development that it is bred into us to instinctively get that attention from as soon as we are born. We also need to learn how to take care of ourselves as soon as possible and look to the parents most like us to acquire this information. The parent that is different from us is harder for us to understand, and we must use a more intimate and intricate set of tools, more intrinsically linked to our identity, in order to maintain their affection. The evolutionary drive to find people who both live like us and see the world the same way we do means that our genes will continue. It means we will found a family like us and teach them the same rules our families taught us.

So much of our development is spent learning how to survive in the competition of our families that we do not always notice when the rules are different in the competition of life. We insist on enforcing our rules and our values in business, politics, and on our families.

Patients often tell me that they are able to understand many of the contradictions, depth, and complexity of their own personality through this lens. The biggest takeaway that I see patients use from this concept is that the way that we live in the world is often at odds with what we want to become or accomplish with our life. We believe that one goal is important, but our method of reaching that goal is seldom questioned.

Freud very nearly did not become a psychiatrist. He originally researched as a neurologist before moving into other disciplines. Freud’s journals document a tremendous amount of study in varied topics he saw as likely breakthroughs to bring him renown. Much of his early work was dedicated to the study of cocaine as a treatment for various medical conditions. Freud mentioned some of his preliminary theories on the use of cocaine for anesthesia to his colleague Karl Koller before going away on a trip. When Freud returned home, Koller had already conducted an experiment using cocaine as a topical anesthetic for surgery on a frog’s eye and became famous.

This discovery, which allowed surgeons to operate on patients without pain, would become the leading advance in surgery for the next decade. Not long after, Freud decided to enter psychiatry, which was a little-known and poorly respected area of the medical field at the time.

He became obsessed with creating a unifying model for consciousness. After narrowly avoiding achieving greatness, he used a relatively unknown area of medicine to make himself great.

Freud was born in a caul, which his mother took as a sign that he was destined for greatness. He was, by all accounts, a genius with tremendous obsessive energy. His mother delighted in his intelligence and told him from an early age that he would bring her fame. He was her “little golden Siggy.” She doted on Freud more than all of her other children. Freud never doubted his greatness. He records in one letter, just before he entered the field of psychiatry, that he had destroyed all his journals and records to hide them from his own future biographers.

Freud developed an amenable affect that made it easy for him to succeed and connect with people. Despite the reality of anti-Semitism in Vienna, his intelligence and genial personality made him many friends in the medical community. He recalled being shocked as a boy when his father was mocked and insulted by racists. He watched his father remain implacable and positive. Young Freud was often confused about how non-reactive his father remained in the face of violence. Freud’s father was a hard worker, but he never strove to be a great man and was never able to lift the family far out of poverty.

Once, when his father told him about being beaten and insulted in the street by a Christian and simply walking onward, Freud was disgusted. He remembered from his schooling that Hannibal’s father had made his son promise to avenge himself on Rome when Carthage was slighted. Freud imagined what a “great man” like the men in his ancient history books would do. Even in childhood, the idea of greatness that Freud saw within himself began to clash with the way that his father was teaching him that Jewish men had to live in the world.

Whether or not we like the things that we learn from our parents, we still learn them. Freud learned from his mother that becoming renowned made him lovable. He learned from his father that one must work hard and avoid conflict. The extreme passivity that Freud learned from his father made Freud repress the competitive and aggressive energies that often arrive in life, and thus the idea of a repressed aggressive drive became one of the major tenets of Freud’s psychology.

Freud was not an assertive man and avoided conflict to an extreme degree in life. When he had disagreements with close friends and mentors, Freud cut off contact with them entirely instead of trying to assert himself, communicate his differences, or compromise. So often was this true that it is difficult to find a case in Freud’s biography where conflict with an equal does not result in the dissolution of the relationship.

Freud’s early students were drawn to his intellect and his theory of the unconscious forces beneath cognition. One by one, these pupils developed their own theories and brought them to Freud for discussion. One by one, Freud cut off communication with his students. Jung recounts in his autobiography that after he told Freud that his interpretation of a dream they were discussing differed from Freud’s interpretation, Freud began looking at him fearfully and finally, becoming terrified, fainted on the floor while Jung tried to reassure him. Freud later told others that Jung had a “death wish” for him, and later cut off all contact with his pupil.

Freud was a great man. His framework for the mind later proved too rigid, but his theories were wildly innovative and influential. Most notably, he was the first to try to see behind the thing that sees. He was the first to speculate that the things that move us are not exterior gods or destiny we had to divine, but forces inside the mind that escape our notice until we are taught to perceive them. His theories were controversial because they called men puppets, but puppets with strings on the inside.

Freud made himself great in order to become lovable, and yet he could not be an assertive man. Freud badly wanted recognition from others but needed their approval without a fight. Freud repressed his own aggressive and sexual tendencies, and his theories describe the repression of these theories. He was a man whose particular form of greatness, genius, required him to be understood by others. However, his passivity made it impossible to maintain those relationships when those others threatened his own need for greatness. The “death wish” that Freud saw in Jung was Jung’s willingness to challenge and refine Freud’s theories. This would “kill” the greatness and be the “death” of what Freud needed to remain lovable.

Now, whether or not you agree with my portrayal of the historical Freud, think of the Freud that I have drawn as a character in a piece of fiction. Imagine this person at a party of other distinguished and renowned men. Imagine what he says to them in order to make them see the dormant greatness within him. He must make them see it, but he also cannot fight with them. He cannot call attention to himself; he cannot challenge them. Yet still, desperately, he needs them to accept him amongst them as great.

Can you see what this person would say? What his posture would be when he approaches these men, reaches for a drink, or is misunderstood in conversation? This is a man who must talk passively but who is also badly needed to force others to understand his dominance and recognize his genius. Think about a character that feels someone disagreeing with them as such an attack that they have fainting spells. Can you feel this character as a complex being? You could outline Freud as a character and write him as jealous, power-hungry, or as a misunderstood genius. Neither of these, admittedly interesting, concepts capture the intricacy or layered nature of a Freud that is understood as this powerful passive nature and repressed aggressive drive interacting.

Learning what to be from one parent but how to live from another can result in numerous combinations of character dynamics that add layers to your fiction or your understanding of yourself. Understanding this will especially help you create the paradoxes of personality that are so important in realistic fiction. If we were to make a character sketch of Freud’s traits, his history, his motives, it would not capture the dynamic of a character whose manner of being in the world is so drastically different than what he thinks makes him matter. Freud’s own process of living made him both repress and experience powerful aggressive energies that he became obsessed with mapping in himself and others.

As a therapist, my patients are not their history, symptoms, or diagnosis any more than characters are a description of their properties. We are dynamic, fluid things always in the process of becoming. Character writing forces you to discover, much as Freud discovered, that the complexity of human nature is in the constant flux of divergent energies inside of us. Many psychologists and philosophers have tried to map these dynamics, and each map is useful for different ends and for different kinds of thinkers. I will present several maps that have been helpful to me in my own story. Hopefully, you will find some helpful information for the story of your characters and the story of your own life.

Understanding the Jungian Shadow:

At the heart of parts-based therapies lies the concept of the Jungian shadow. Schwartz, Perls, The Stones, Moreno, Hillman, Mindell and others all used Jung as a jumping off point for their parts based approaches. The shadow represents the repressed, denied, or disowned parts of ourselves that we find unacceptable or incompatible with our conscious self-image. These shadow elements are not inherently negative or evil, but rather represent the aspects of our being that we have learned to hide, suppress, or reject.

The shadow is formed through a complex interplay of developmental experiences, societal expectations, and personal beliefs. From a young age, we are bombarded with messages about who we should be, how we should behave, and what is considered acceptable or unacceptable. In an effort to conform to these external standards and gain approval from others, we often learn to silence or disown parts of ourselves that do not fit the mold.

However, the shadow does not simply disappear when we deny its existence. Instead, it continues to exert a powerful influence on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors from the depths of our unconscious mind. It can manifest in various forms, such as self-sabotaging patterns, irrational fears, or projections onto others. Until we bring the shadow into conscious awareness and integrate it into our sense of self, it will continue to shape our lives in ways that may be detrimental to our well-being and relationships.

Parts Based Therapies that can be used for screenwriting and fiction:

Process Therapy:

Process-Oriented Psychology, also known as Process Work, developed by Arnold Mindell, offers valuable insights for creating compelling characters in fiction writing. This approach emphasizes the importance of exploring and unfolding the “process” that underlies human experience, including the subtle signals, sensations, and dreams that often go unnoticed or unexpressed. By attuning to these deeper dimensions of experience, writers can create characters that feel authentic, complex, and emotionally resonant.

Exploring Character Edges:

In Process Work, “edges” refer to the boundaries or limits of a person’s identity, beyond which lies unknown or unexpressed potential. By exploring a character’s edges—the places where they feel uncertain, uncomfortable, or resistant—writers can create opportunities for growth, conflict, and transformation. A character might have an edge around expressing vulnerability, for example, which could create interesting tensions and challenges as they navigate their relationships and goals.

Unfolding Character Dreams: Mindell’s approach recognizes the significance of dreams and their potential to reveal hidden aspects of the psyche. By exploring a character’s dreams, writers can gain insight into their unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts. A character’s recurring nightmare, for instance, might hold clues to unresolved traumas or repressed parts of their personality. By weaving these dream elements into the story, writers can create a sense of depth and mystery that compels readers to explore further.

Amplifying Character Signals:

Process Work encourages individuals to pay attention to the subtle signals and sensations that arise in their body and mind, as these can offer valuable information about their underlying process. For writers, this means attuning to the small details and gestures that reveal a character’s inner world. A character’s nervous tic, for example, might signal deeper anxieties or insecurities that shape their behavior and relationships. By amplifying these signals and exploring their significance, writers can create characters that feel nuanced and psychologically complex.

Embracing Character Polarities:

Mindell’s approach recognizes that human experience is often characterized by polarities or opposing tendencies, such as love and hate, strength and weakness, or creativity and destruction. By exploring the polarities within a character’s psyche, writers can create interesting tensions and paradoxes that drive their behavior and development. A character might struggle with the polarity of wanting to be successful and wanting to be liked, for instance, creating internal conflicts that shape their choices and relationships.
Facilitating Character Flirts: In Process Work, “flirts” refer to the subtle signals or impulses that arise at the edges of our experience, often pointing towards new possibilities or directions. By attuning to a character’s flirts—the fleeting thoughts, feelings, or intuitions that might otherwise be ignored or dismissed—writers can create opportunities for surprising developments and transformations. A character’s passing interest in a new hobby, for example, might signal a deeper longing for self-expression or adventure that could transform their life in unexpected ways.

Exploring Character Ghosts:

Mindell’s approach recognizes the influence of “ghosts” or unresolved figures from a person’s past that continue to shape their present experience. By exploring a character’s ghosts—the parents, siblings, or significant others who have left a lasting impact on their psyche—writers can create a sense of psychological depth and complexity. A character’s difficult relationship with their father, for instance, might create patterns of behavior or belief that shape their adult relationships and choices.

By incorporating these principles and techniques from Process-Oriented Psychology, writers can create characters that feel authentic, multi-dimensional, and emotionally compelling. Embracing the fluid and ever-unfolding nature of human experience, as emphasized in Process Work, writers can create characters that feel dynamic and alive, capable of surprising readers and themselves with their growth and transformation. Rather than presenting characters as fixed or static entities, this approach invites writers to explore the ways in which characters are constantly evolving in response to their inner and outer worlds, navigating the challenges and opportunities that arise along the way.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy:

One of the most well-known and widely practiced parts-based therapies is Internal Family Systems (IFS), developed by Richard Schwartz. IFS posits that our psyche is composed of various sub-personalities or “parts,” each with its own unique perspective, emotions, and coping mechanisms.

In IFS, these parts are broadly categorized into three main types: exiles, managers, and firefighters. Exiles represent the wounded, vulnerable, and often younger parts of ourselves that have been relegated to the shadows due to painful experiences or perceived inadequacies. Managers are the parts that strive to maintain control, order, and functionality in our lives, often by suppressing or distracting from the exiles. Firefighters are the reactive parts that emerge in times of crisis or overwhelming emotion, often engaging in impulsive or self-destructive behaviors to numb or escape the pain.

The goal of IFS therapy is to help individuals develop a compassionate and curious relationship with their different parts, learning to listen to their unique perspectives and needs. Through a process of “unblending” from identified parts and accessing the “Self,” a state of calm, clarity, and compassion, individuals can begin to heal the wounds of the exiles, negotiate with the managers, and transform the firefighters into more adaptive coping strategies.

IFS therapy emphasizes the importance of honoring and respecting all parts of the self, recognizing that even the most problematic or challenging parts have valuable insights and positive intentions. By fostering a sense of internal harmony and collaboration, IFS helps individuals develop greater self-leadership, resilience, and emotional well-being.

Applying Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Techniques to Screenwriting and Fiction Writing:

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy offers a rich framework for understanding the complex dynamics within the human psyche, and these insights can be invaluable for writers seeking to create lifelike, multi-dimensional characters. By applying IFS concepts and techniques to character development, writers can craft characters whose inner worlds are filled with conflicting motivations, desires, and fears, driving their actions and decisions in authentic, compelling ways.

Identifying Characters’ Parts:

One of the core techniques in IFS therapy is identifying and naming the different “parts” or sub-personalities within an individual’s psyche. These parts often have distinct roles, characteristics, and coping mechanisms that have developed in response to life experiences and relationships.

When developing characters, writers can use this technique to map out the different parts that comprise a character’s inner world. For example, a character might have a “Protector” part that seeks to keep them safe from emotional harm, a “Critic” part that drives them to achieve perfection, and a “Wounded Child” part that carries unresolved pain from their past.

By identifying and fleshing out these different parts, writers can create characters with rich, complex inner lives that extend beyond simple motivations or personality traits.

Exploring the Origins and Functions of Parts:

In IFS therapy, understanding the origins and functions of a person’s different parts is crucial for facilitating self-awareness and healing. Therapists work with clients to explore how their parts developed in response to specific experiences, relationships, or cultural contexts, and how these parts have served to protect or cope with challenges.
Writers can apply this technique to character development by delving into the backstories and formative experiences that have shaped their characters’ different parts. By understanding how a character’s “Protector” part emerged in response to early experiences of abandonment, or how their “Critic” part developed as a way to gain approval from a demanding parent, writers can create characters whose motivations and behaviors are grounded in authentic, relatable human experiences.

Creating Conflict Between Parts:

One of the key insights of IFS therapy is that an individual’s different parts can often be in conflict with one another, leading to internal struggles and contradictory behaviors. A person’s “Achiever” part, for example, might drive them to work tirelessly towards their goals, while their “Caregiver” part yearns for rest and connection with loved ones.
Writers can use this concept of conflicting parts to create compelling, lifelike characters whose inner worlds are filled with tension and struggle. By putting characters in situations that activate different parts of their psyche, writers can explore how these parts negotiate, compromise, or clash with one another, driving the character’s actions and decisions in complex, unpredictable ways.

For example, a character’s “Adventurer” part might impulsively accept a dangerous mission, while their “Responsible Parent” part tries to talk them out of it. As these parts battle for control, the character’s external journey takes shape, reflecting the rich, multi-layered nature of their inner world.

Showing Characters’ Growth Through Parts Work:

In IFS therapy, the goal is not to eliminate or suppress certain parts of the self, but rather to foster greater self-awareness, compassion, and integration. Therapists work with clients to develop a curious, accepting relationship with their different parts, allowing them to express their needs, fears, and desires in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Writers can mirror this process of growth and integration in their characters’ arcs, showing how they learn to recognize, understand, and embrace the different parts of their psyche. A character might begin their journey in a state of internal conflict, with their “Critic” part constantly berating them for their failures, and their “People-Pleaser” part driving them to sacrifice their own needs for others.

As the story unfolds, the character might encounter challenges or relationships that force them to confront and understand these parts of themselves. They might learn to set boundaries with their “People-Pleaser” part, or develop self-compassion in response to their “Critic” part. By showing characters’ growth through their relationship with their parts, writers can create arcs that feel authentic, emotionally resonant, and deeply satisfying.

Moving Beyond Plot and Pantsing:

By incorporating IFS concepts and techniques into character development, writers can move beyond the traditional dichotomy of “plotting” versus “pantsing” and instead focus on the organic unfolding of their characters’ inner worlds.
Rather than imposing external plot points or relying on spontaneous inspiration, writers can allow their characters’ conflicting parts and internal struggles to guide the story’s direction. As characters navigate the tensions between their different parts, their choices and actions emerge naturally, creating a sense of authenticity and inevitability in the narrative.

This approach to character-driven storytelling requires a deep understanding of each character’s unique configuration of parts, their origins, and their complex interplay. By investing time and effort into developing characters’ inner worlds through the lens of IFS therapy, writers can create stories that feel alive, unpredictable, and emotionally impactful.

When creating characters, drawing inspiration from parts-based therapies like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Voice Dialogue, and Process Therapy can be incredibly beneficial. These therapeutic approaches view the human psyche as a complex system of distinct parts or subpersonalities, each with its own unique traits, motivations, and roles. By applying this concept to character development, writers can create nuanced, realistic characters that feel neither archetypal nor over-planned, while also avoiding extraneous, unplanned details or unnecessary arcs.

By conceptualizing characters as a system of interconnected parts, writers can delve deep into their characters’ inner worlds, exploring the interplay between their various subpersonalities. This approach allows for a rich understanding of how different aspects of a character’s psyche influence their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in any given situation. As a result, characters become more authentic, three-dimensional, and consistent throughout the story.

Integrating parts-based therapy concepts into character development offers advantages for both plotters and pantsers. Plotters, who prefer to outline and plan their stories in advance, can use their understanding of character parts to map out realistic arcs and plot points that align with the characters’ psychological makeup. By considering how events will impact different subpersonalities and how those parts might respond, plotters can construct a coherent and compelling plot that feels true to the characters.

On the other hand, pantsers, who prefer to discover the story as they write without extensive outlining, can use their intuitive understanding of character parts to organically develop the story. By tapping into the unique dynamics between subpersonalities, pantsers can allow the characters to guide the story, ensuring that their actions and reactions feel authentic and unforced. This approach helps pantsers maintain a balance between character-driven storytelling and plot progression, minimizing the risk of including extraneous details or unnecessary arcs.

Regardless of whether a writer is a plotter or a pantser, investing time in building characters using insights from parts-based therapies can lead to the creation of believable, engaging characters that drive the story forward. By striking a balance between the characters’ inner complexities and the demands of the plot, writers can craft stories that resonate with readers on a deep, psychological level.

Voice Dialogue Therapy:

Another influential parts-based therapy is Voice Dialogue, developed by Hal and Sidra Stone. Voice Dialogue focuses on the concept of “selves” or sub-personalities that operate within our psyche, each with its own unique perspective, desires, and fears.

In Voice Dialogue, the therapist facilitates a process of “dialoguing” with these different selves, allowing them to express themselves and be heard. By giving voice to the various parts of the self, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their internal dynamics, conflicts, and patterns of behavior.

Some of the common selves explored in Voice Dialogue include the Inner Critic, the Pleaser, the Perfectionist, the Rebel, and the Vulnerable Child. Each of these selves plays a specific role in our overall functioning, often developed in response to early life experiences and relationships.

Through the process of Voice Dialogue, individuals learn to recognize and differentiate between their various selves, developing a greater sense of self-awareness and choice. By embracing the multiplicity of the self and fostering a sense of inner dialogue and collaboration, Voice Dialogue helps individuals navigate the complexities of their internal world with greater ease and authenticity.

Voice Dialogue Sub Personalities:

Voice dialogue therapy uses several parts the Sidra and Hal Stone call “sub personalities”

The Inner Critic:

One of the most pervasive and influential parts of the self is the Inner Critic. The Inner Critic is the internalized voice of judgment, self-doubt, and self-blame that often plagues our thoughts and undermines our sense of self-worth.

The origins of the Inner Critic can often be traced back to early childhood experiences, where we may have internalized the critical or demanding voices of caregivers, authority figures, or societal expectations. Over time, this internal voice becomes a constant companion, monitoring our every move and finding fault with our actions, appearance, or achievements.

In parts-based therapies, the goal is not to silence or eliminate the Inner Critic, but rather to understand its origins, motivations, and impact on our lives. By developing a compassionate and curious relationship with the Inner Critic, we can begin to challenge its assumptions, reframe its messages, and cultivate a more balanced and supportive internal dialogue.

The Pusher:

Another common part of the self is the Pusher, the driving force behind our ambition, productivity, and achievement. The Pusher is the part of us that strives for success, sets high standards, and pushes us to excel in various areas of life.

While the Pusher can be a valuable source of motivation and determination, it can also become overactive or imbalanced, leading to burnout, perfectionism, or a relentless sense of never being good enough. When the Pusher is in overdrive, it can drown out the needs and desires of other parts of the self, leaving us feeling disconnected, exhausted, or unfulfilled.

In parts-based therapies, individuals learn to recognize the presence and impact of the Pusher, exploring its origins and the underlying fears or beliefs that fuel its intensity. By developing a more balanced relationship with the Pusher, individuals can harness its energy and focus in a more sustainable and self-compassionate way, allowing space for rest, play, and self-care.

The Pleaser:

The Pleaser is the part of the self that seeks approval, validation, and harmony in relationships. It is the part that strives to meet the needs and expectations of others, often at the expense of one’s own desires or boundaries.

The Pleaser often develops in response to early experiences of conditional love or acceptance, where a child learns that their worth is contingent upon pleasing others or conforming to external standards. Over time, this pattern of self-abandonment can lead to a sense of disconnection from one’s authentic self, as well as difficulties with assertiveness, self-advocacy, and intimacy.

In parts-based therapies, individuals explore the origins and impact of the Pleaser, learning to recognize its presence and the ways in which it shapes their interactions and relationships. By developing a more authentic and self-honoring relationship with the Pleaser, individuals can begin to set healthy boundaries, communicate their needs and desires, and cultivate more fulfilling and reciprocal connections with others.

Traumatized Parts:

Trauma can have a profound impact on the psyche, often leading to the development of specific parts or sub-personalities that carry the wounds and adaptations related to the traumatic experience. In parts-based therapies, these traumatized parts are often referred to as “exiles” or “wounded parts.”

Traumatized parts often hold the painful emotions, memories, and beliefs associated with the traumatic event, such as fear, shame, guilt, or helplessness. These parts may have become isolated or disconnected from the rest of the self as a way of coping with the overwhelming nature of the trauma.

In therapy, the goal is to create a safe and compassionate space for these traumatized parts to be seen, heard, and validated. Through a process of gentle exploration and “witnessing,” individuals can begin to access the wounded parts of themselves, providing them with the care, understanding, and support they need to heal.

This process often involves a careful navigation of the individual’s “window of tolerance,” ensuring that the exploration of traumatic material occurs at a pace and intensity that feels manageable and non-retraumatizing. Through the integration of traumatized parts, individuals can begin to release the grip of the past, reclaim a sense of wholeness and agency, and move forward in their lives with greater resilience and self-compassion.

The Vulnerable Child:

At the core of many parts-based therapies lies the recognition of the Vulnerable Child, the part of the self that holds the earliest experiences of vulnerability, need, and dependency. The Vulnerable Child is the part of us that longs for love, safety, and belonging, and that carries the wounds of early experiences of neglect, abandonment, or insecurity.

In many individuals, the Vulnerable Child becomes buried or suppressed as a way of coping with the pain and uncertainty of early life experiences. We may develop protective parts or strategies to keep the Vulnerable Child hidden, such as the Pusher, the Pleaser, or the Inner Critic.

However, the Vulnerable Child remains a vital part of our authentic self, holding the key to our deepest longings, fears, and needs. In parts-based therapies, individuals learn to develop a compassionate and nurturing relationship with the Vulnerable Child, providing it with the care, validation, and support it may have lacked in early life.

By connecting with the Vulnerable Child and honoring its needs and feelings, individuals can begin to heal the wounds of the past, develop a greater sense of self-acceptance and self-love, and cultivate more authentic and fulfilling relationships with others.

Using Voice Dialogue Techniques in Screenwriting and Fiction:

Voice Dialogue, a therapeutic approach developed by Drs. Hal and Sidra Stone, offers a powerful framework for understanding the various subpersonalities or “selves” that comprise the human psyche. By applying the principles and techniques of Voice Dialogue to character development, writers can create complex, multi-dimensional characters that feel authentic, relatable, and emotionally resonant.

Identifying Characters’ Selves:

At the core of Voice Dialogue is the concept that our psyche is composed of multiple selves or subpersonalities, each with its own unique perspective, desires, and fears. These selves often develop in response to early life experiences, relationships, and societal expectations, and they can be both beneficial and limiting in their influence on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
When developing characters, writers can use this concept of selves to map out the different subpersonalities that comprise a character’s inner world. For example, a character might have a “Responsible Self” that drives them to excel in their career, a “Rebellious Self” that yearns for freedom and adventure, and a “Vulnerable Child Self” that carries unresolved wounds from their past.

By identifying and fleshing out these different selves, writers can create characters with rich, complex inner lives that extend beyond simple motivations or personality traits.

Giving Voice to Characters’ Selves:

In Voice Dialogue therapy, the process of “dialoguing” with different selves is crucial for developing self-awareness and understanding. Therapists guide clients in giving voice to their various selves, allowing each subpersonality to express its unique perspective, needs, and concerns.
Writers can apply this technique to character development by creating scenes or passages that give voice to a character’s different selves. This can be done through internal monologue, dialogue with other characters, or even through creative writing exercises where the writer embodies each of the character’s selves and writes from their perspective.

By allowing characters’ selves to speak and be heard, writers can explore the nuances and contradictions within their inner worlds, creating a sense of depth and authenticity in their portrayal.

Exploring the Relationships Between Selves:

In Voice Dialogue, understanding the relationships and dynamics between different selves is key to fostering integration and wholeness within the psyche. Some selves may work in harmony with one another, while others may be in conflict or opposition.
Writers can use this concept to create compelling inner conflicts and tensions within their characters. For example, a character’s “Perfectionist Self” might constantly criticize and undermine their “Creative Self,” leading to self-doubt and creative blocks. Or a character’s “Caregiver Self” might be in constant tension with their “Self-Nurturing Self,” leading to burnout and neglect of their own needs.

By exploring the relationships and power dynamics between characters’ selves, writers can create complex, multi-layered inner worlds that drive their characters’ actions, choices, and growth in compelling ways.

Showing Characters’ Growth Through Self-Awareness:

In Voice Dialogue therapy, the goal is not to eliminate or suppress certain selves, but rather to develop a greater sense of self-awareness and choice in how we relate to and express these different aspects of ourselves. By giving voice to and understanding their different selves, individuals can learn to embrace their complexity and make more conscious, authentic choices in their lives.
Writers can mirror this process of growth and self-awareness in their characters’ arcs, showing how they learn to recognize, understand, and integrate the different selves within their psyche. A character might begin their journey feeling torn between their “Responsible Self” and their “Adventurous Self,” leading to inner conflict and a sense of being stuck.

As the story unfolds, the character might encounter experiences or relationships that help them to give voice to and understand these different selves. They might learn to find a balance between responsibility and adventure, or to embrace their complexity and make choices that honor both selves. By showing characters’ growth through their relationship with their selves, writers can create arcs that feel authentic, emotionally resonant, and transformative.

Enhancing Character Interactions and Dialogue:

Voice Dialogue not only illuminates the inner world of individual characters but also provides a framework for understanding the complex dynamics between characters. Each character’s unique configuration of selves can influence how they perceive, relate to, and communicate with others.
Writers can use this understanding to create rich, layered interactions and dialogue between characters. For example, a scene between two characters might be shaped by the interplay of their respective “Controlling Selves,” each vying for dominance and authority. Or a moment of vulnerability might arise when one character’s “Wounded Child Self” resonates with and draws out the “Nurturing Parent Self” in another.

By considering the selves that are active within each character during a given interaction, writers can craft exchanges that feel authentic, charged, and revelatory, illuminating the complex web of desires, fears, and power dynamics that underlie human relationships.

Using Dreams in Voice Dialogue:

Sidra and Hal Stone’s concept of dreams in parts therapy can also be used to show moments of growth and change for characters in fiction.

Identifying selves:

The Stones believe that dreams can reveal the various selves or subpersonalities within an individual’s psyche. They encourage exploring dream characters and their roles to gain insight into the dreamer’s inner world.

Giving voice to selves:

By dialoguing with dream characters, the dreamer can give voice to the different selves that emerge in their dreams. This process can help the dreamer understand the perspectives, needs, and concerns of these selves.

Exploring relationships between selves:

Dreams often depict interactions or conflicts between different characters, which can represent the relationships between the dreamer’s selves. Analyzing these dream interactions can provide insight into the power dynamics and tensions within the psyche.

Accessing vulnerability:

The Stones believe that dreams can provide a gateway to the dreamer’s vulnerable, unconscious selves. By exploring dreams with compassion and curiosity, the dreamer can connect with and understand these hidden aspects of themselves.

Confronting disowned selves:

Dreams may feature characters or scenarios that the dreamer finds uncomfortable, frightening, or repulsive. These elements can represent disowned or shadow selves that the dreamer has rejected or suppressed. Engaging with these selves through dream work can facilitate integration and wholeness.

Receiving guidance:

The Stones view dreams as a source of inner wisdom and guidance. By dialoguing with dream characters and exploring dream symbols, the dreamer can access insights and solutions that their conscious mind may have overlooked.

Tracking growth and change:

As an individual progresses in their personal growth and self-awareness, their dreams may reflect these changes. The Stones encourage paying attention to shifts in dream content and tone as indicators of the dreamer’s evolving relationship with their selves.

Enhancing creativity:

Dreams can be a rich source of creative inspiration. The Stones suggest exploring dream imagery and narratives to unlock new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities in the dreamer’s waking life.

Facilitating self-care:

Dreams may highlight areas where the dreamer needs to practice greater self-care or self-compassion. By attending to the messages and needs expressed by dream characters, the dreamer can learn to nurture and support their various selves.

Strengthening the Aware Ego:

The ultimate goal of Voice Dialogue is to develop the Aware Ego, a centered, compassionate aspect of the self that can observe and facilitate communication between the various selves. By working with dreams, the dreamer can strengthen their Aware Ego and foster greater self-awareness and integration.

Applying Parts-Based Therapies in Fiction Writing:

Techniques and Structures for Using Jungian Psychology and Parts-Based Therapy in Character Development

Shadow Confrontation:

Create situations that force characters to confront their Jungian shadow, the repressed or denied aspects of their psyche. This can lead to surprising actions, decisions, or revelations that deepen the character’s complexity and drive the story forward.

Parts-Based Conflict:

Utilize the concept of “parts” or sub-personalities from IFS and Voice Dialogue to create internal conflicts within characters. As different parts of the character’s psyche, such as the Inner Critic, Pleaser, or Protector, vie for control, the character’s behavior and motivations become more nuanced and unpredictable.

Trauma Triggers:

Explore how traumatic experiences shape characters’ psyches and create wounded or exiled parts. By placing characters in situations that trigger their traumatic wounds, writers can reveal hidden depths, vulnerabilities, and strengths that might otherwise remain unseen.

Shadow Projection:

Have characters project their own repressed qualities or desires onto others, leading to complex relationships and interactions. As characters recognize aspects of themselves in others, they may form surprising connections or experience unexpected conflicts.

Parts-Based Alliances:

Create situations where characters with seemingly opposing traits or backgrounds find common ground through shared parts or experiences. For example, two characters who appear vastly different on the surface might connect through their shared experience of childhood trauma or their mutual struggle with perfectionism.

Inner Dialogue:

Use inner dialogue or stream of consciousness writing to reveal the interplay between a character’s different parts or voices. By showcasing the internal negotiations, conflicts, and compromises between these parts, writers can create a rich and dynamic inner world for their characters.

Shadow Integration:

Show characters’ growth and transformation through the integration of their shadow aspects. As characters learn to accept and embrace their repressed qualities, they may exhibit surprising strengths, insights, or abilities that shift the course of the story.

Conceiving Character Dialogue Using Parts-Based Interactions:

When crafting dialogue between characters, writers can use the concept of parts-based interactions to create more dynamic, layered, and psychologically rich exchanges. By considering which part of each character is speaking and to which part of the other character they are responding, writers can infuse their dialogue with subtext, tension, and emotional resonance.

For example, imagine a scene where two characters, A and B, are arguing about a decision that needs to be made. Character A’s Pleaser part might be speaking, trying to appease and accommodate Character B to avoid conflict. Meanwhile, Character B’s Inner Critic part might be responding, expressing doubt, judgment, or disapproval towards Character A’s suggestions.

By recognizing the specific parts that are interacting, writers can create dialogue that feels authentic, charged, and revelatory. The Pleaser part of Character A might express sentiments like, “I just want us to find a solution that works for everyone,” or “I’m willing to compromise if it means we can move forward.” The Inner Critic part of Character B might retort with lines like, “You’re not thinking this through,” or “We can’t just settle for any decision because you’re afraid of rocking the boat.”

As the conversation progresses, the parts being expressed might shift, revealing new layers of the characters’ psyches and relationships. Character A’s Assertive part might emerge, standing up for their needs and desires, while Character B’s Vulnerable Child part might surface, expressing fears or insecurities that underlie their critical stance.

By attuning to the parts-based interactions within dialogue, writers can create exchanges that are not only more emotionally compelling but also more revealing of the characters’ inner worlds, conflicts, and growth. Readers will recognize the authentic, multi-faceted nature of these interactions, as they mirror the complex interplay of parts within their own relationships and conversations.

Moreover, by tracking which parts of each character are speaking and being spoken to throughout the story, writers can create satisfying arcs of growth, healing, and transformation. As characters learn to recognize and integrate their different parts, their dialogues will reflect this evolution, with more self-aware, compassionate, and authentic exchanges that showcase their psychological depth and development.

The concept of “parts” or sub-personalities within the self, as used in parts-based therapies, provides a powerful tool for understanding and portraying the complex inner world of characters. Recognizing that characters, like real people, possess different aspects of their personality, such as the Inner Critic, the Pusher, or traumatized parts, allows writers to craft rich and dynamic inner monologues, conflicts, and behavioral patterns that bring their characters to life on the page.

Tracing the origins and functions of these parts back to characters’ early life experiences and relationships adds another layer of psychological depth and consistency to their portrayal. For instance, a character with a strong sense of humor may have developed this trait as a coping mechanism in response to feelings of shame, rejection, or the need to communicate difficult truths in a more palatable way. By understanding the roots of characters’ personality traits and coping styles, writers can create compelling and believable characters that resonate with readers.

Furthermore, the Jungian concept of the Shadow serves as a valuable tool for creating character depth and driving plot development. By exploring what information or aspects of themselves characters cannot acknowledge due to conflicts with their self-image, writers can create internal tensions, blind spots, and opportunities for growth and transformation that propel the story forward and keep readers engaged.

Ultimately, by drawing on these psychological concepts and tools, writers can craft characters that feel vivid, authentic, and emotionally resonant. Understanding the complex interplay of childhood experiences, personality parts, coping mechanisms, and the shadow enables writers to break through creative blocks and craft stories that explore the profound depths of the human experience.

The psychology of character is a rich and fascinating area with endless possibilities for exploration and application in fiction writing. By continuing to study and integrate psychological insights into their craft, authors can create stories that not only entertain but also illuminate the intricate complexities of the human psyche, forging deeper connections with readers and leaving a lasting impact on their audience.

Bibliography:

Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Pantheon Books.
Freud, S. (Various works on psychoanalytic theory)
Jung, C. G. (1968). The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. Princeton University Press.
Schwartz, R. C. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy. Guilford Press.
Stone, H. & Stone, S. (1989). Embracing Our Selves: The Voice Dialogue Manual. New World Library.
Mindell, A. (1985). River’s Way: The Process Science of the Dreambody. Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Hillman, J. (1975). Re-Visioning Psychology. Harper & Row.

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Using Jungian Psychology in Screenwriting and Fiction: Part 2 Parts Based Therapies

Unveiling the Layers of the Self: Parts-Based Therapies in Psychotherapy and Fiction

Main Points and Key Ideas:

Psychology as Character

Understanding the Jungian Shadow:

Parts Based Therapies that can be used for screenwriting and fiction:

Process Therapy:

Exploring Character Edges:

Amplifying Character Signals:

Embracing Character Polarities:

Exploring Character Ghosts:

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy:

Applying Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Techniques to Screenwriting and Fiction Writing:

Identifying Characters’ Parts:

Exploring the Origins and Functions of Parts:

Creating Conflict Between Parts:

Showing Characters’ Growth Through Parts Work:

Moving Beyond Plot and Pantsing:

Voice Dialogue Therapy:

Voice Dialogue Sub Personalities:

The Inner Critic:

The Pusher:

The Pleaser:

Traumatized Parts:

The Vulnerable Child:

Using Voice Dialogue Techniques in Screenwriting and Fiction:

Identifying Characters’ Selves:

Giving Voice to Characters’ Selves:

Exploring the Relationships Between Selves:

Showing Characters’ Growth Through Self-Awareness:

Enhancing Character Interactions and Dialogue:

Using Dreams in Voice Dialogue:

Identifying selves:

Giving voice to selves:

Exploring relationships between selves:

Accessing vulnerability:

Confronting disowned selves:

Receiving guidance:

Tracking growth and change:

Enhancing creativity:

Facilitating self-care:

Strengthening the Aware Ego:

Applying Parts-Based Therapies in Fiction Writing:

Techniques and Structures for Using Jungian Psychology and Parts-Based Therapy in Character Development

Shadow Confrontation:

Parts-Based Conflict:

Trauma Triggers:

Shadow Projection:

Parts-Based Alliances:

Inner Dialogue:

Shadow Integration:

Conceiving Character Dialogue Using Parts-Based Interactions:

Further Reading

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy:

Voice Dialogue:

Psychosynthesis:

Jungian Active Imagination:

Psychodrama:

Focusing:

Hakomi Therapy:

Archetypal Psychology:

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT):

Bibliography:

Further Reading:

Walter Ong: Orality, Literacy, and the Jesuit Worldview

Is Metamodern Meme Cultural Making us Speak Literally and Symbolically at the Same Time

Subjective Experience in Trauma: A Comparative Analysis of Freud, Adler, and Jung

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