What is Carl Jung’s archetypes?

Carl Jung’s archetypes are like super common characters that show up in everyone’s stories, and they help us understand ourselves better.

Imagine you have a box of toys, and every time you play, the same kinds of toys keep showing up. Those toys are like archetypes: they’re patterns or types of people or ideas that appear again and again in our lives, dreams, and even books.

Think about it this way:

• The Hero is like your favorite character who goes on adventures, maybe you're the hero in your own story when you solve a tough problem at school.
• The Wise Old Man could be your grandpa, giving you advice that helps you make good choices.
• The Shadow might be that part of you that gets angry when you lose a game, it’s like the "not-so-nice" side of someone.

These archetypes aren’t just in stories, they’re in all of us! They help explain why we act the way we do, and they make our lives feel more connected. Just like your favorite toys always bring you joy, these characters show up to make our own personal stories more interesting.