Discover the Archetypes Shaping Your Life
Search Storywell Shopping Cart
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman with arms crossed at the wrists

Pearson's & Heroic Archetypal Characters

Carol Pearson, PhD has a unique presence in the field of Jungian archetypes. First, Pearson's work is about twelve heroic archetypes that she discovered which appear across culture, time, and stories, such as myths, fairy tales, literature, and religion. The theory uses the metaphor of the heroic journey as a structure for ordering archetypes as they commonly occur in the course of Western adult development. Unlike other theorists, Pearson extends Jung's work on individuation through her system of adult development through the heroic archetypes. Finally, Pearson's system has been applied in a broad range of fields: psychological therapy, coaching, Jungian studies, education, screen writing, and game design among them.

Broad Application

Carol has also written about applications of the PMAI® 12 archetype model to branding, leadership, and organizational development, all of which can be heroic endeavors and many of which are widely used such fields. For example, IBM now uses the 12 archetype system for its culture audit work and many branding companies utilize her work on authentic archetypal branding. As one branding consultant, who uses the theory of archetypes in her work, once said, "My clients don't speak Jung, they speak Pearson." However, it is the work with individuals that is closest to Pearson's heart, as she believes that larger social entities do not change until individuals do.

History of the Archetypes

In Awakening the Heroes Within - Pearson's early work that describes the 12 archetypal model that was the origin of the PMAI instrument - Pearson identifies the twelve archetypes as the Innocent (Idealist), Orphan (Realist), Warrior, Caregiver, Seeker, Lover, Destroyer (Revolutionary), Creator, Ruler, Magician, Sage, and Fool (Jester). She then collaborated with Hugh Marr, PhD to create a reliable, validated instrument to help individuals utilize her theories in their lives.

Individuation

Awakening the Heroes Within builds on Jung's concept of individuation by clustering the archetypes developmentally in three groups: Ego, Soul, and Self. The first four archetypes (Idealist, Realist,Caregiver, and Warrior) are basic to human functioning. With the second half of life comes the initiation of the internal journey of the hero. This Soul cluster is composed of the Seeker, Lover, Creator, and Revolutionary, contributing to identity development that deepens as people mature. The third cluster, containing the Ruler, Magician, Sage, and Jester, are the archetypes of the Self, which Jung thought of as the balancing point of the entire psyche (conscious, personal unconscious, and collective unconscious). The Self represents wholeness, is linked to the numinous or divine, and is symbolized by the circle or mandala.

The model is described in stages, but in experience the journey is spiral, where one encounters the same archetypes at different levels of integration as personal development progresses. The archetypes are also called forth in handling particular life tasks and responding to new challenges. Above the door to Jung's study was a Latin saying, Vocatus atqua non vocatus deus aderit, which means, Called or not called, the gods are present. A given life situation may call forth a particular archetype regardless of what archetype is theoretically predominant in that period of a person's life. All twelve archetypes are potentially present in any moment, and what may be called forth depends upon both the situation and archetypes (gods) who oversee that particular life period.

The Wonder Woman image is © 2019 WARNER BROS. ENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


LINK COPIED TO CLIPBOARD
archetypes, creator, jester, PMAI, sage, warrior



Related Content

Enacting the hero's journey as story When Is a Story Archetypal?
by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
We know the facts—that we are currently one of 8 billion people on the planet, that in the greater scheme of humanity and the cosmos we will live and die anonymously - but this is not how you and I live. You are striving, battling, and loving through an epic drama. Each time you triumph, each time you fail, you gain the wisdom of living for the first time, as every hero has done through time. Every one of us senses our mysterious potential, often ambiguous and vague, yet emotionally compelling in its lure towards who we can be. We sense as well that the hard facts of life do not provide access to this level of potential, but where to turn for guidance?

READ MORE >>


Jung & Archetypes
The Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® (PMAI®) is rooted in the theories of C. G. Jung. Jung's view of archetypes, a concept he didn't coin but was the first to apply to the structure and experience of the psyche or mind, is based on his understanding of the various levels of the psyche or mind (conscious and unconscious).

READ MORE >>


Living the Heroic Life Journey: Part 1
Mar 04, 2020 by Carol S. Pearson, PhD, DMin and Hugh Marr, PhD, LPC
Studying Jungian psychology helped me figure out that living builds inner psychological structure. Jung described how, in the first half of life, we need to form a healthy ego, while in the later half of life the task is to connect with the Self, an accomplishment which takes us to a deeper understanding of who we are and a capacity for feeling more connected to others and the world.

READ MORE >>


When it is the lowest archetype in your profile, embodying the archetypal Caregiver can transform a Blind Spot into a heroic journey. Hidden Gold in the Shadow
Nov 17, 2022 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
My younger sister, Carmen, is quite close in age to me – just a year apart – but distant in personality. Growing up, my naturally sensitive, caring, generous sibling would often say to me that I just didn’t have that “caregiver gene.” She was right. Where Carmen was motivated to generate positive emotions in herself and others, I was fascinated by the dark nether regions of the mind and imagination. Where Carmen naturally trusted and nurtured others’ vulnerabilities, I probed the hidden secrets and conflicted natures of myself and others.

READ MORE >>


illustration of Icarus falling from the Sun When You Need a New Perspective
by Carol S. Pearson, PhD, DMin
Habitual attitudes often blind us to new possibilities and options. Life is most rewarding for me when I am growing and learning. I’ve found that the archetypes that are dominant for me and others are important for authenticity and for the primary lessons we are learning at any given time.

READ MORE >>


Living the Heroic Life Journey: Part 2
by Carol S. Pearson, PhD, DMin and Hugh Marr, PhD, LPC
The meaning of "soul" used in depth psychology does not necessarily imply the religious meaning of what is eternal about you; rather, it is about discovering the deeper, more essential "you" that exists now. While many people have trouble understanding what soul is, most of us know what it means to look in the mirror and think something like, "if I do this one more day, or if I agree to this, or if I allow this, I will lose my soul."

READ MORE >>


roman warrior fighting in a cloud of dust with a superimposed 'POW' Finding Our Voice, Managing Anger
by Patricia R. Adson, PhD
There is a difference between feeling angry and acting angry. Angry actions and loud words may scare other people, or allow you to express yourself and vent, but in interpersonal relationships, such actions seldom get the results we desire.

READ MORE >>


silhouette of George and the Dragon statue, Moscow, in front of a sunset sky Authentic Archetypal Branding
by Carol S. Pearson, PhD, DMin
After Awakening the Heroes Within (1991) was published, I began to recognize the archetypes I wrote about being used in advertisements. I was aware that too many individuals and organizations focus on promoting an image of themselves unrelated to what they genuinely care about and value. When there is a large gap between the real self and what we are trying to convince the world we are, the result is, at best, a shallow and empty life.

READ MORE >>


dark purple book cover with a phoenix rising titled What Stories Are You Living Reviews and Excerpts
Dr. Pearson’s book will introduce the rich archetypal journey of Jungian individuation to the novice and deepen the competency of the advanced reader to use Jungian archetypes for awareness and evolution towards one’s highest self.

READ MORE >>


office workers around a table with archetype symbols over their heads Working with Teams through the PMAI® Archetypes
May 07, 2021 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
All organizations, teams, or any group with a common mission, will confront archetypal moments, those difficult decisions on how best to go forward when what you decide will have impact on the organization and customers.

READ MORE >>


three coworkers holding coffee cups and laughing Archetypes Are Oriented Around a Core Quality
Jun 17, 2021 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
People accurately and intuitively understand that the archetypes symbolically represent universal human qualities. A common misunderstanding though is if an archetype is not active in your Archetype Profile, then you are lacking the core quality it represents. Having an archetypal character rank low in your Profile does not mean you are lacking that quality but indicates you are not identified with it and likely not accessing it, at least not with ease. In this article, we explain how identifying each archetype with a core quality is distinct from using that same quality through the other archetypes.

READ MORE >>


woman with red backpack standing at a forked path in the woods Archetypes are Fluid and Dynamic
Feb 13, 2023 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
If you happen to take the PMAI® assessment again, you will likely notice the same characters congregating near the top and bottom of your profile, but not always in the same positions. Our newest article discusses the fluid and dynamic nature of archetypes and how the PMAI instrument can be used to reveal your growth or the growth of your clients over time.

READ MORE >>


This article is suggested reading
child's drawing with three trees, sun, and house with a cat on the roof Archetypes, Projective Drawing, and Autistic Teenagers
Aug 19, 2021 by Katherine Culpepper, MFT
Katherine Culpepper works with autistic teenagers seeking vocational training after high school using Projective House-Tree-Person (HTP) Drawings in combination with the PMAI® assessment and archetype system. By combining a narrative approach to the interpretation of the work of art with the PMAI archetypes, students relate readily to the method and enjoy gaining insight into themselves.

READ MORE >>


diverse millennials, and a senior woman executive. share a moment of understanding Types of Leaders, Types of Knowledge
Jun 21, 2023 by Merle Singer and Kesstan Blandin, PhD
Technology has become an increasingly significant source of knowledge for leaders in the twenty-first century, possibly creating a shift in the archetypal dynamics of leaders today. In this first article on "Leadership Narratives" a mixed methods research study, conducted between 2018-2020 by Merle Singer and Heather Round, explores how our volatile world is changing the leadership narratives for seasoned female professionals and early-career female and male millennials in corporate Australia and the United States.

READ MORE >>



The hero’s journey is the symbolic process of growing into one’s authentic self. The Roots of the Pearson-Marr Archetypes
by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
In this article, Kesstan Blandin provides basic definitions and distinctions between C.G. Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Carol Pearson’s work on archetypes as a way to deepen your understanding of the PMAI® archetypes.

READ MORE >>


The hero archetype, Saint George, slays the outlaw dragon Archetypes, Brands, and the Quest for Meaning
by Margaret Mark
In Margaret Mark's career in advertising, she was often dumbfounded by the extent to which brands took on meaning for people - often across cultures and over decades. Apple, Coke, Disney, Nike. What made these entities so powerful, with the capacity to transcend time and place?

In this article Mark describes her quest for insight and how it eventually led her to archetypes and Carol Pearson's work.

READ MORE >>


Hope is the link between current reality (Realist) and future possibilities (Idealist). Pandora’s Hope: An Archetypal Reading
Apr 11, 2022 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
The two archetypes of Idealist and Realist are a complementary pair. We all have an ideal of what our life should be like and the belief that our future can be different from our past, but the challenges of reality get in the way. Yet hope prevails. Balancing the Idealist and Realist can help us be grounded in reality while allowing for possibilities of a positive future.

READ MORE >>


Understanding the PMAI® archetypes can help improve family dynamics or settle conflicts, even while online gaming Archetypes and Family Dynamics
Sep 14, 2022 by Yvonne Nelson-Reid, PhD
In this month's article Yvonne Nelson-Reid highlights an area not often talked about; the impact of archetypes on family dynamics. In order to do this Yvonne uses the World of Warcraft gaming, as played between the three men in her family.

READ MORE >>


Students with low self-efficacy are more likely to give up when faced with difficult circumstances. The Impact of Low Scoring Archetypes on College Student Success
Oct 17, 2022 by Mona AlQadi, PhD
This month new author Mona AlQadi, PhD reports on her dissertation research using the PMAI® to gain a deeper understanding of the unconscious archetypal narratives at play in underperformance in college students. Her study yields several insights into the relationship between low-scoring archetypes and students’ attitudes, behaviors, and worries toward their academic goals.

READ MORE >>


World of Warcraft players, like this elf lady in green, play out enchanted archetypal stories What Story Are You Playing?
May 18, 2023 by Logan Abbitt
When looking for a little enchantment in life what archetypal story do you like to play? In this second article, Logan Abbitt compares 6 more of the PMAI archetypes with some of the mythical characters played out in the high fantasy game World of Warcraft (WoW).

READ MORE >>


Girl playing World of Warcraft online, immersed in her epic, mythical archetypal story. What Story Are You Playing?
Apr 18, 2023 by Logan Abbitt
What archetypal story are you playing? Online high fantasy games, such as World of Warcraft (WoW), can be a way to play out your archetypal stories. In this month's article, Logan Abbitt, a longtime WoW player, gives us insight into how the PMAI® archetypes can crossover into the character roles in games like WoW.

READ MORE >>


Bringing Archetype (PMAI®) Together with Type (MBTI®)
Apr 02, 2024 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
Though archetypes (PMAI) and personality type (MBTI) express different aspects of one's personality, one fluid and one fixed, together they bestow a depth of self-understanding. This month, Kesstan Blandin, PhD, distinguishes the contrasting nature of these two systems and how they ground or emphasize each other in a way that can accelerate self-growth.

READ MORE >>


In our work with people using both the PMAI and MBTI instruments, we see two relationships between type and archetype. Archetypes and Personality Type
Jun 17, 2024 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD
This is the second article in a three-part series, by Kessstan Blandin, PhD, discussing the relationships between Jung’s theories of archetypes and psychological types, as assessed by the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator® and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instruments, respectively. The first article discussed the ways the theories of archetype and type converge and diverge—how they overlap and where they are distinct. This current article presents the results of a large, correlational study between the PMAI® and MBTI® tools.

READ MORE >>


Archetype & Personality Type: From Theoretical to Personal
Jul 18, 2024 by Kesstan Blandin, PhD and Yvonne Nelson-Reid, PhD
This is the third article in a three-part series discussing the relationships between the theories of the PMAI® and MBTI® instruments. Following two previous articles that discussed the ways the theories of archetype and type converge and diverge, as well as the empirical correlations between the two instruments, this article presents insights gained through qualitative research. Of particular interest covered are the strengths, gifts, and Allies; various types of shadow elements in the psyche; and how to lean into archetypal flexibility.

READ MORE >>