tuated experience. These phenomena can be readily observed whenever associations are taken. Past experiences or complexes of strong feeling remain in the subconscious in a dormant state until they are disturbed by associations. These associations may be purely adventitious or intentional as in the experiment. As soon as stimulated they continue to manifest themselves in different automatisms. In the experiment we have definite responses which refer to the complex. In our everyday life we sometimes begin to hum a certain melody which we have not heard for years; for a time we become, as it were, possessed by it, and on analysis we find its definite meaning. It refers to some past episode evoked by some accidental association or by a definite state of mind.
"The preponderant part of all our thoughts and actions is really composed of small fragments which are infinitely and delicately determined by numberless moments lying entirely external to consciousness. To our ego-consciousness the association process seems to be its work, in its estimation the association process is dominated by the free will and attention, in reality, however, as is so nicely shown in the experiments, the ego-consciousness is only a marionette dancing on the stage by means of concealed automatic springs."[1]
Many assert that they can react of their free will and accord, but analysis shows that the reactions generally refer to their intimate experiences revealing just what they were endeavoring to conceal. The emotionally accentuated complex exerts a constant influence which successfully vies with the intentions of the ego-consciousness, and despite the repressing influences of the ego-complex it sends out associations about which the ego-complex has no notion.
The complexes as developed by Jung are identical with the dissociated psychic groups described by Freud. Just as the complexes dominate our thoughts and actions, so do the repressed psychic groups assert themselves symbolically not only in pathological but also in normal individuals. In his excellent work, the Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens,[2] Freud shows that everyday forgetfulness, lapses in writing, talking, adventitious acts and
