Who is credited with introducing the concept of the "collective unconscious"?

The concept of the "collective unconscious" is attributed to Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. Jung proposed that, in addition to the personal unconscious, there exists a collective unconscious shared among all humans. This collective unconscious is composed of archetypes and universal symbols that shape human experiences and behaviors. It signifies that there are aspects of the unconscious mind that are common to all people, influenced by shared human experiences, myths, and cultural symbols.

Jung's idea of the collective unconscious differs significantly from other psychological theories, such as those proposed by Sigmund Freud, who focused primarily on individual unconscious experiences and repressed memories. Albert Bandura's work revolves around social learning and behavior, and Ivan Pavlov is known for his research on classical conditioning. Neither of these figures introduced concepts akin to the collective unconscious, which emphasizes shared human experiences rather than individual psychological issues or behavioral theories. Thus, the correct attribution of the concept of the collective unconscious is firmly rooted in Jung's innovative approach to psychology.