Symbol

==Psychoanalysis, rhetoric, and archetypes==
An alternative definition of ''symbol'', distinguishing it from the term ''[[Sign (linguistics)|sign]]'' was proposed by Swiss psychoanalyst [[Carl Jung]]. In his studies on what is now called [[Jungian archetypes]], a sign stands for something known, as a word stands for its referent. He contrasted a sign with a  ''symbol'': something that is unknown and that cannot be made clear or precise. An example of a symbol in this sense is [[Christ]] as a symbol of the [[archetype]] called ''[[Self in Jungian psychology|self]]''.<ref>''Christ, A symbol of the self'' CW vol 9i Aion RKP 1958</ref>

[[Kenneth Burke]] described ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' as a "[[Definition of man|symbol-using, symbol making, and symbol misusing animal]]" to suggest that a person creates symbols as well as misuses them. One example he uses to indicate what he means by the misuse of symbol is the story of a man who, when told that a particular food item was whale blubber, could barely keep from throwing it up. Later, his friend discovered it was actually just a dumpling. But the man's reaction was a direct consequence of the symbol of "blubber" representing something inedible in his mind. In addition, the symbol of "blubber" was created by the man through various kinds of [[learning]].

Burke goes on to describe symbols as also being derived from [[Sigmund Freud]]'s work on [[Condensation (psychology)|condensation]] and [[Displacement (psychology)|displacement]], further stating that symbols are not just relevant to the [[The Interpretation of Dreams|theory of dreams]] but also to "normal symbol systems". He says they are related through "substitution", where one word, phrase, or symbol is substituted for another in order to change the meaning.{{clarify|date=December 2013}} In other words, if one person does not understand a certain word or phrase, another person may substitute a [[synonym]] or symbol in order to get the meaning across. However, upon learning the new way of interpreting a specific symbol, the person may change his or her already-formed ideas to incorporate the new information.

[[Jean Dalby Clift]] says that people not only add their own interpretations to symbols, they also create personal symbols that represent their own understanding of their lives: what she calls "core images" of the person. Clift argues that symbolic work with these personal symbols or core images can be as useful as working with dream symbols in psychoanalysis or counseling.<ref>Jean Dalby Clift, ''Core Images of the Self: A Symbolic Approach to Healing and Wholeness''. Crossroad, 1992. {{page needed|date=April 2012}}</ref>

William Indick suggests that the symbols that are commonly found in myth, legend, and fantasy fulfill psychological functions and hence are why archetypes such as "the hero", "the princess" and "the witch" have remained popular for centuries.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130629202403/http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-6039-7 Indick, William. Ancient Symbology in Fantasy Literature: A Psychological Study. Jefferson: McFarland &, 2012. Print.]</ref>