Imp of the Perverse: struggling with our fiendish shadow

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Jul 21, 2022

Explore the concept of the imp of the perverse and its relevance to human behavior. Learn about Edgar Allan Poe's depiction of the imp of the perverse and its power. Discover the significance of uncovering secrets in therapy and the healing process. Delve into the exploration of choice and asserting ourselves. Embrace impish thoughts and dreams' wisdom, as well as the transformative power of dreams. Explore a dream about the weight of responsibility and the symbolism within.

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INSIGHT

Imp of the Perverse Concept

The imp of the perverse tempts us to act against our own self-interest without conscious reason.
This irrational impulse can lead to self-destructive behaviors, such as confession after a crime.

INSIGHT

Scientific View of Perverse Impulses

The French call this suicidal impulse "l'appel du vide" or 'the call of the void.'
Science sees these thoughts as miscommunications, often signaling a will to live rather than true suicidal intent.

ANECDOTE

Jung's Turd on the Cathedral

Carl Jung struggled with a disturbing mental image of God defiled but found relief by allowing himself to confront it.
Facing forbidden thoughts can release inner torment and expand consciousness.

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A fiendish inner spirit can prompt behavior that defies self-interest and even common sense. In Edgar Allan Poe’s story, the protagonist acts on his diabolical urge to commit murder, followed by a self-destructive urge to confess it. Jung says, “If he has done it secretly, without moral consciousness of it, and remains undiscovered, the punishment can nevertheless be visited upon him…” The impulse to take irrational and even immoral risks can cause inner torment and lead to damaging actions. The trickster within tempts us to yield to impulse, succumb to negligence, or be recklessly perverse—simply for the sake of indulging the foolish or forbidden. Posing as merely mischievous, the imp of the perverse proffers a sense of power and grandiosity. He challenges us to meet him with the power of self-reflection, ego strength, and restraint, the components of conscious choice.

Here’s the dream we analyze:

“I am with my wife and child on the North pole. We are in a small cabin. I don’t know why we are here or how we got here. It is not a familiar place, but I’m not surprised to be here. There is a blizzard raging outside. Inside it is dark; a fire is burning in a traditional cast iron stove. We huddle together by the fire. I am responsible for the fire. The door blows open, and I can see the white blizzard outside. I fear that my daughter will somehow be sucked into the blizzard. I manage to close the door. I search for firewood, but the cabin is dark and unfamiliar. I venture out into the storm and find some firewood. I return inside to tend to the fire. I find my wife and daughter asleep by the stove.”

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