This imagery best represents how creativity relates to the unconscious. It conveys the idea that our creativity, represented by the light bulb, is powered largely by our unconsciousness. The light bulb, also doubling as the body of the person, powers the unconscious, which then powers the light bulb again, signifying a cycle. The idea that this tries to convey is that creativity is a holistic process that involves not just our minds, but our very beings.
1. Ask yourself: "From which part of my psyche do I think my creativity comes from?"
My creativity usually emerges when I'm in the process of solving problems to pursue an objective--that is, from my consciousness. When I'm in the "problem-solving mode", I use the most efficient way to achieve my objectives, and this is where my creative methods stem from.
2. Recall and relate some incidences when you used some psychological defences (as stated by Freud). Or did you encounter other aspects of yourself, like your Anima, shadow, or other personae that exist within you (based on Jung's theories)?
One quality that I know I lack, but I hope to possess, is self-confidence. I want to have the confidence to be able to stand up for myself in the face of a strong adversary, or do things that I know are right despite heavy opposition. When these situations do happen though, I tend to take the least troublesome way out--I compromise to satisfy others. Although this may not necessarily be a bad way to resolve things, I often find myself dissatisfied with the outcome, because I know I compromised out of fear. This often leaves me frustrated, because what I've done conflicts with my idealised identity of myself. During these moments, I find myself using dissociation to rid of these frustrations. I tell myself that what's done is done, and that the person that had done this isn't me, but a younger me that I've left behind. I tell myself that I was weak, but I will be stronger.
While incidences of me feeling that I lack confidence still occurs, as they happen more and more, I find myself applying more and more of Freud's Level 4 psychological defense methods, namely anticipation, identification and introjection. I learn to anticipate when situations that will attack my sense of self image will happen and prepare myself for them, tuning my mindset to become ready to confidently defend myself instead of compromise. I also identify myself with greater people who I respect and the ideas that they stand for to help reinforce my confidence.
I think I encounter what I believe is my shadow occasionally. Sometimes, out of nowhere, there will be this voice in my head that eggs me on to do unconventional things that are violent and sadistic in nature. The impulse will slowly grow and become unbearably strong for a moment before fading. Thankfully, I've never went ahead with any of these momentary thoughts.
3. Which school of psychology most closely relates to your ideas of the origins of creativity?
Analytical psychology most closely relates to my ideas of the origins of creativity. I believe that creativity stems from beyond our consciousness. It is the result of our unconscious self being unleashed. This unconscious self is deeply spiritual in nature, having a connection to the source of life itself, which gives it infinite depth from which it can draw its ideas from. Similarly, the school of analytical psychology places huge emphasis on the unconscious, which it considers a potent and very active part of our psyche.
4. Dig deeper and see what else emerges from your unconscious. Interprete this Deep(er) Doodle. Where can you place your imaginary figures and "friends" that you have drawn, in this snapshot/map of your unconscious?
If I were to expand on the deep doodle above, influential media and real-world figures will form a significant part of the picture. These figures would be wired all over "me", under the bulb, into the head, and even all over the bulb. This portrays the influence that the media has on me, and how they form an integral part of my values and identity. These influences that the media has on me has an effect on how I perceive the world around me, which influences my creativity and the things that come out of it.
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