“A group experience takes place on a lower level of consciousness than the experience of an individual. This is due to the fact that, when many people gather together to share one common emotion, the total psyche emerging from the group is below the level of the individual psyche. If it is a very large group, the collective psyche will be more like the psyche of an animal, which is the reason why the ethical attitude of large organizations is always doubtful. The psychology of a large crowd inevitably sinks to the level of mob psychology. If, therefore, I have a so-called collective experience as a member of a group, it takes place on a lower level of consciousness than if I had the experience by myself alone.”

― C.G. Jung, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious

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Jung viewed group dynamics with caution, believing that groups can lower the level of consciousness, diminish individual accountability, and promote “participation mystique” where individuals unconsciously identify with the group’s collective mood. He warned that in a crowd, an individual risks losing their sense of self and becoming a victim of suggestion, confusing a group-induced emotional state with genuine transformation. However, Jungian psychology can also offer tools for analyzing group dynamics through concepts like the persona, shadow, and the exploration of dreams, which can help identify and work through group projections and internal conflicts. 

Jung’s views on the negative aspects of groups

• Loss of individuality: Jung famously said, “The greater the crowd, the more insignificant the person”. He believed that larger groups lead to a diffusion of personal identity and responsibility. 
• Lowered consciousness: He argued that a group’s collective emotional state is at a lower level of consciousness than an individual’s, which can lead to less critical thought. 
• Participation mystique: Jung warned that a group setting is fertile ground for “participation mystique,” which is an unconscious identification with the group’s feelings and ideas. This can make individuals highly suggestible. 
• Misguided transformation: He cautioned that the intense feelings of transformation felt in group settings are often just an “overdose of previously unconscious material” and not the same as the genuine, difficult work of individual transformation. 

How Jungian concepts can be applied to groups

• Projection: Jung’s concept of projection is central to understanding conflict in groups. Individuals and groups tend to project their own disowned negative traits, fears, and aggressions onto an “enemy” outside themselves. 
• Persona and shadow: Groups have a collective persona (the social mask they present to the world) and a collective shadow (the repressed, unacknowledged parts of the group’s shared values and behaviors). 
• Archetypes: Archetypal patterns and symbols from the collective unconscious can influence group behavior, creating shared narratives and dynamics. 
• Dreams: Analyzing group members’ dreams about each other can reveal unconscious connections, projections, and conflicts within the group. 
• Individuation: Jungian theory suggests that as individuals become more conscious through the process of individuation, they also become more aware of their responsibilities within society, potentially leading to healthier group participation. 

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