Individuation
noun /ˌɪn.dɪ.vɪdʒ.uˈeɪ.ʃən/ — Jung's term for the lifelong process of becoming fully, authentically oneself
Definition
In Jungian psychology, the process of integrating all parts of the self — conscious and unconscious, shadow and light — into a coherent, authentic whole. The becoming of who one truly is, rather than who one was expected to be.
Beyond the definition
The longest journey is inward. Individuation is not self-improvement in the conventional sense — it is not becoming better but becoming whole. It asks you to integrate the parts you have hidden, the instincts you have disowned, the shadow you have cast.
Origin & history
From Latin 'individuare' (to make individual) — from 'individuus' (indivisible). Developed as a psychological concept by Carl Jung to describe the central process of human psychological development. The paradox: to individuate is to become more fully yourself, but also more fully connected to the universal.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Jung believed individuation was the purpose of the second half of life — the work of integrating rather than achieving.
The process of individuation is never comfortable: it requires meeting the parts of yourself you have most carefully avoided.
Midlife crises are often failed individuation — the self demanding its wholeness without the vocabulary to ask for it properly.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Individuation” when the meaning fits your context: In Jungian psychology, the process of integrating all parts of the self — conscious and unconscious, shadow and light — into a coherent, authentic whole. The becoming of who one truly is, rather than who one was expected to be.
Synonyms
self-realisation, integration, self-becoming, wholeness
Antonyms
conformity, fragmentation, persona-wearing
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Individuation" mean?
Individuation is noun meaning: Jung's term for the lifelong process of becoming fully, authentically oneself. In Jungian psychology, the process of integrating all parts of the self — conscious and unconscious, shadow and light — into a coherent, authentic whole. The becoming of who one truly is, rather than who one was expected to be.
Where does the word "Individuation" come from?
From Latin 'individuare' (to make individual) — from 'individuus' (indivisible). Developed as a psychological concept by Carl Jung to describe the central process of human psychological development. The paradox: to individuate is to become more fully yourself, but also more fully connected to the universal.