EVALUATING THE COMPATIBILITY OF JUNGIAN ART THERAPY AND DEMENTIA CARE IN MAINTAINING PERSONHOOD: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

This narrative literature review explores the theoretical crossovers between Jungian art therapy and dementia care in consideration of personhood maintenance. Due to the lack of literature and clinical observations simultaneously encompassing these topics, the aim shifts towards crossexamining the available literature as separate datasets to identify any potential bridges or gaps between them. The perspective of this review remains within the ethical considerations of personhood maintenance, exploring potential improvements to dementia care through that lens. By attempting to place the art therapist in a Jungian-orientated, transformative role, this literature review intends to support and empower a patient population that has been socially and politically scapegoated. The first finding determined that Jungian art therapy regularly harnesses the strengths of this patient population by utilising what is retained of emotional and symbolic planes. Incorporating these planes to communicate through symbolic language may alter care dynamics and aid in the refined understanding of patients’ needs. The second finding determined the persistence of archetypal tendencies within this patient population drawing on the hypothesis that archetypal awareness in care could map out the psyche of patients and underline aspects of the self for a path towards individuation. The third finding determined the transformative effects of libido as a psychic energy, namely-how this inner force could be redirected towards creative and identity affirming expressions within dementia care. Suggestions for further research include: analysis of qualitative studies regarding these topics individually and collectively, literature from varying cultures to underline the relevance of the theory of collective unconsciousness explored in this paper as well as further incorporating testimonies of persons living with dementia.