Another way of thinking about the guiding function of the charioteer/reason discussed by Plato is to see these functions as representing what Moore and Gillette refer to as the King archetype in the male psyche at the archetypal level of the psyche and what they refer to as the Queen archetype in the female psyche at the archetypal level of the psyche. Another way of thinking about the parenting and nurturing aspects of the Adult Self discussed by Anderson is to see these functions as also representing the functions of the King and Queen archetypes at the archetypal level of the psyche. However, Moore and Gillette have written a book only about the King archetype at the archetypal level of the male psyche, THE KING WITHIN: ACCESSING THE KING [ARCHETYPE] IN THE MALE PSYCHE (William Morrow, 1992; revised and expanded edition, Exploration Press, 2007).
As I've illustrated, there is no shortage of ways of
thinking about the conceptual constructs that Anderson
works with in her new book. But Anderson
claims that her conceptual construct of the Outer Child can enable
psychotherapy to work to bring about behavioral change, as distinct from merely
helping people have new insights about themselves and their lives.
That's a big claim to make. But what if she's right?
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