Editing Inner child (section)

{{short description|In psychology, a person's childlike aspect}}
{{for multi|the episode of ''Fringe''|Inner Child (Fringe)|the album by Shanice|Inner Child (album)}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
In some schools of [[popular psychology]] and [[analytical psychology]], the '''inner child''' is an individual's childlike aspect. It includes what a person learned as a child before [[puberty]]. The inner child is often conceived as a semi-independent [[subpersonality]] subordinate to the waking conscious mind. The term has therapeutic applications in counseling and health settings. 

The theoretical roots of the inner child trace back to Carl Jung’s divine child archetype, which he saw as both an individual and collective symbol of renewal and transformation. <ref name="Jung1969">Jung, C. G., & Kerényi, C. (1969). ''Essays on a Science of Mythology: The Myth of the Divine Child and the Mysteries of Eleusis''. Princeton University Press. [https://archive.org/details/essaysonscienceo00jung Internet Archive]</ref> 
The Jungian Child archetype led to the concept of the inner child. It has been defined as “all the past hidden ages” within a person’s life journey, consisting of memories and emotional layers from each stage of development that influence the formation of identity.<ref name="Firman1994">Firman, J., & Russell, A. (1994). ''Opening to the Inner Child: Recovering Authentic Personality''. [https://www.synthesiscenter.org/PDF/opening.pdf Synthesis Center PDF]</ref>

Psychologists have explored the role of the inner child in influencing adult behaviour. Lamagna (2011) explored how overwhelming emotional experiences in early life can shape present-day emotional functioning and relational patterns by remaining outside of conscious awareness. <ref name="Lamagna2011">Lamagna, J. (2011). Of the self, by the self, and for the self: An intra-relational perspective on intra-psychic attunement and psychological change. ''Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 21''(3), 280–307.</ref>  The inner child is often considered as the vulnerable and hidden childlike part of a person with playfulness and creativity, but also accompanied by anger, hurt and fear from the early childhood experiences with caregivers. <ref name="Whitfield2015">Whitfield, C. L., & Nuckols, C. C. (2015). ''Healing the Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families''. Health Communications.</ref>

The concept became known to a broader audience through books by [[John Bradshaw (author)|John Bradshaw]] and others. Bradshaw (2005) emphasised that by acknowledging the inner child, individuals could awaken their true selves and heal past emotional wounds. <ref name="Bradshaw2005">Bradshaw, J. (2005). ''Healing the Shame That Binds You''. Health Communications.</ref> These perspectives collectively affirm that the inner child will continue to influence an individual's sense of identity, emotional well-being, and relationships throughout life.