Jungian Image Analysis Based on the Work of Theodor Abt

In this post, I’ll be walking you through some of the basic methods and concepts of Jungian image analysis. The approach I’ll be going through is based on the work of Theodor Abt, a Swiss Jungian analyst and training analyst at the C.G. Jung Institute. He is the author of the book "Introduction to Picture Interpretation According to C.G. Jung", which contains many of the ideas I’ll be discussing here. If you're interested in diving deeper, I highly recommend his book.

This method of image analysis is quite different from the way I usually work with my clients as my focus around the integration of images is usually more on the imaginative and creative process—creative writing, dialogue, and reflective discussions around images. What Abt offers is a more structured, analytical approach using a step-by-step procedure with specific questions you can ask about your images. I think that it can be very helpful to circuambulate images from a multitude of perspectives but this analytical part should always follow a personal, imaginitive reflection.

Overview of the Method

Abt’s method consists of five structured steps that help uncover the meaning of an image. But before we dive into the steps, we’ll take a look at the psychological background that informs this approach—especially Jung’s theory of typology.

The Aim of Image Analysis

The goal of image analysis is to develop our ability to read images and, in Abt's words, to allow a picture to “reveal its hidden meaning out of itself.” To do this, Abt believed we must ask the image questions—if we want it to speak to us. Abt also emphasizes maintaining a "loving attitude" toward the image—an attitude rooted in respect for the unconscious. As he puts it: "Otherwise, we would just turn to the picture and ask it whether our own point of view is correct."

Even though this is an analytical method, it's important to remain connected to the wisdom of the unconscious and allow the image to speak on its own terms. This process of dialogue with the image helps generate new consciousness from it.

A Word of Caution

As we go through this method, you’ll notice there’s a lot of ways to view an image and lots of questions you could ask. It can get overwhelming. The key is not to overdo it. Keep things simple and stay connected to the image itself.

Often, your image will already speak loudly to you about what’s most important. The analytical tools are there to support that process—not to replace it. You don’t need to use every single method or question for every image. Different approaches will resonate with different images.

On Projection and Personal Bias

It’s also important to remember that when we look at images—especially our own—we often project aspects of our inner world onto them. Even when viewing images made by others, we tend to see reflections of ourselves. I usually work with groups and in a group setting, this can be very helpful in exploring our own projections. But for a more objective analysis, we need to be aware of this tendency.

As Abt points out, “the interpretation of the unknown is always shaped by personal bias, disposition, and complexes.” One way he addresses this is through Jung’s typology, which we’ll now explore, as it forms the foundation for the step-by-step method.

Jung’s Typology: The Foundation for Image Analysis

Jung developed a model of psychological types based on two attitudes—introversion and extraversion—and four functions—thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. These exist in all of us in some form, but one attitude and one function usually dominate Here are just very bried overviews of the qualities of the functions and attitudes.

The Two Attitudes:

Introversion: Oriented inward, reflective, slower to act, more focused on internal experience.
Extraversion: Oriented outward, sociable, engaged with the external world.

The Four Functions:

Feeling: Makes judgments based on personal values and emotional resonance.
Thinking: Operates through logic and objective analysis.
Intuition: Sees patterns, potential, and deeper meaning—focused on the unseen.
Sensation: Focuses on direct sensory experience, grounded in concrete reality.

These functions appear in pairs of opposites:

Thinking ↔ Feeling (judging functions)
Sensation ↔ Intuition (perceiving functions)

Each person has a dominant (superior) function, the one that is most natural way of being in the world for us, and an inferior function—the one that is least developed and tends to operate unconsciously. Becoming aware of these helps us balance our perception and interpretation of images.

Abt’s Five Steps of Image Analysis

Step 1: First Impressions

Begin with a spontaneous, unfiltered reaction. Let the image affect you. Notice bodily sensations, emotional responses, and the overall atmosphere. Jung describes this as a “lowering of psychic energy,” which makes space for the image to speak.

Step 2: Functional Perspective

Now analyze the image using the four functions. Abt divides these into introverted and extraverted questions:

Introverted questions:

* How does my body react to the image?
* Do I like or dislike it?
* Does it give me or take away energy?
* Does it leave me with a sense of peace or disorder?
* Is it hinting at something beyond itself?

Extraverted questions:

* What is the quality of the materials, format, and colors?
* What elements are present?
* What feels important or central in the image?
* What is the structure and organization of the elements?
* Where might the image be coming from or pointing toward?

Step 3: Hypothesis and Counter-Hypothesis

From your observations, form a hypothesis about what the image is communicating. Then, formulate a counter-hypothesis—an opposite interpretation. This helps balance your projections and remain open to what the image might be compensating for unconsciously. The psyche always works in polarities.

Step 4: Second Circumambulation

Now revisit the image through a new set of questions:

* Where does the image come from in the unconscious?
* What is its relationship to the feminine principle (body, nature, water, instinct)?
* What is its relationship to the masculine principle (spirit, structure, meaning, fire, air)?
* In what direction is the image taking me—constructive or deconstructive?

Step 5: Synthesis

The final step is to allow the meaning to emerge organically. This is not something you force; it's a moment of inner clarity. As Abt says, it should feel like the "rising of the sun"—a natural revelation, not a logical conclusion.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While powerful, this method comes with some dangers:

- Over-interference: Trying to force meaning can disturb the natural unfolding of the unconscious. Jung warned against “distorting the silent operation of nature by clumsy interference.”

- Over-reduction: Reducing the image to a single interpretation can flatten its depth. Keep an open mind to multiple layers of meaning.

- Function-specific traps:

Sensation: Can get lost in lifeless details.
Feeling: Might produce vague, unstructured interpretations.
Thinking: Risks becoming too abstract or rigid.
Intuition: Can drift into speculation, ignoring the concrete.

To avoid these pitfalls, always return to the image itself. Keep it alive through creativity and imagination before turning to analysis.

Final Thoughts

Abt’s approach to image analysis is a structured way to engage with your images, connect with your inner world and develop conscious insight from symbolic material. It demands respect, patience, and humility—trusting that the image knows more than we do, and that if we ask the right questions, it will reveal its secrets in time.

Above all, remember that the image is alive. Approach it with curiosity and reverence—and let it speak.

Reference and image source:

Abt, Theodor (2005) Introduction to Picture Interpretation: According to C G Jung, Living Human Heritage Publications.