Shame and Creativity ─ From Affect Towards Individuation

Shame and Creativity: From Affect Towards Individuation is about shame and the ways in which we can use creative methods to transform shame into a lifelong process of self-development. Using a Jungian understanding of the personal and collective unconscious, shame is described as a key affect in relation to self-worth and quality of life.

The book is divided into three parts. Part One is about shame, based on affect theory, Jungian psychology and psychological creativity. Part Two discusses shame in relation to seven primary affects, introducing the ‘Blue Diamante model’ to describe how shame is often hidden behind other affects and suggesting that all affects must be involved in processing shame. Part Three identifies the steps in the ‘Blue Diamante model’ with the ancient myth of Inanna’s descent to the underworld; it discusses the development of the original self behind shame and presents a new model for transforming the relationship between the masculine and feminine aspects of the psyche, together with art therapy methods.

The originality of Shame and Creativity lies in its combination of affect theory, Jungian psychology and a creative methodology. It aims to inspire clinicians to recognize shame and to work more directly with shame as it appears in therapy. The book will be of great interest to art therapists and students of art therapy. It will also appeal to all readers interested in creativity, shame, Jungian analysis and affect theory.

Vibeke Skov, PhD, founded the Institute of Art Therapy, Denmark, in 1987, which is based on a Jungian approach to creative development, and has educated students in art therapy ever since. She has a private practise in Bredsten and also works as a glass artist and painter. She has published several books, most recently on integrative art therapy and depression.