Animus for Dummies

Hey there! I'm really glad you asked about the word "animus." It's a fantastic word, and I think you'll enjoy learning about it!

Animus is a noun, and it has a couple of different meanings. The first meaning of animus refers to a deep feeling or attitude someone has towards something or someone else. It's like a strong emotion that you feel inside you, which can be positive or negative.

Let me give you an example to make it more clear. Imagine that you and your best friend both love playing basketball. You both always support each other, cheer for one another, and help each other become better players. In this situation, you have a positive animus towards your friend because you have a deep feeling of friendship, support, and encouragement for them and their basketball skills.

On the other hand, if there's someone who often tries to bring you down or make you feel bad about yourself, you might have a negative animus towards that person. This means that you have a strong feeling of dislike or anger towards them because of the way they treat you.

Now, the second meaning of "animus" is related to psychology. In this context, "animus" is a term used by a famous psychologist named Carl Jung. He used it to describe the masculine side of a person's personality, particularly in women. It represents the part of them that is assertive, independent, and rational.

Think of it this way: just like we all have different sides to our physical appearance, like hair, eyes, and hands, we also have different psychological sides. And the animus is like the superhero within us, the part that helps us be brave, make decisions, and stand up for ourselves.

To sum it all up, "animus" means having a strong feeling towards something or someone, either positive or negative, and it can also refer to the assertive and independent side of a person's personality.

I hope I was able to explain it in a way that makes sense to you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.