Memoir of Tina Keller-Jenny: A Lifelong Confrontation with the Psychology of C.G. Jung
C.G. Jung’s Preface to Proposed English Edition to Tina Keller’s Keller-Jenny’s “L’Ame et les Nerfi”
“Mrs. Keller’s book is an unpretentious introduction to the understanding of nervous disorders.
A ceaseless and limitless talk about psychology has inundated the world in the last 20 years, but it has not as yet produced a noticeable improvement of the psychological outlook and attitude.
Laymen, as well as scientists, are bewildered by the luxuriant growth of theoretical standpoints, and by a maze of unbalanced propositions.
This state of things is not particularly helpful, although one cannot see how it could be avoided. It complicates things, instead of making them simpler, whereas simplicity is the very root of human understanding.
Simplicity of mind prevents fatal deviations from the instinctual pattern, and makes it possible to keep aloof from the temptation of intellectual escapades.
As there are no mental safeguards against going astray in the chaos of psychological possibilities, one has to depend upon the sound functioning of one’s instincts.
But such functioning demands simplicity, particularly when it comes to practical issues, such as education and psychotherapy.
Scientific books about psychology are relatively good for the psychological expert, but they are harmful to the layman, who is more in need of a psychological attitude than of theories.
There are not too many books, which try to confer the psychological turn of mind rather than so-called scientific knowledge.
It is the most destructive thing, in practical situations, to depend upon “scientific” statements and to look up your case in the psychological text-book.
But you need your instincts and all the simplicity of mind and heart you can afford.
In that respect the public needs some education; and I hope that Mrs. Keller’s book will provide its readers with impressions that will help them in discovering the mood, attitude or atmosphere of psychological perception and decision. ~C. G. Jung, Tina Keller Memoirs, Pages 140-141