According to Jung, the personality involves three structures: The Ego (conscious), the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. The collective unconscious contains archetypes, (instincts), and is the same in all of us. The personal unconscious is unique in everyone, containing info that never became conscious as well as info repressed by the ego. The main contents of the personal unconscious are the complexes.

Complexes are constellations of thoughts, images and ideas related by a single emotional theme. Several complexes occur in most people, and have as their core an archetypal theme with the same name as the complex. The Persona contains those parts of our personality that we expose to others because we believe they will be socially acceptable.

The anima archetype is each man's unconscious image and understanding of women. A man's anima complex includes those aspects of his personality that he rejects from consciousness because they are inconsistent with his view of masculinity. The anima complex is a man's female side, and the doorway to the creativity of his unconscious mind.

The animus archetype is each woman's unconscious image and understanding of men. A woman's animus complex includes aspects of her personality rejected as inconsistent with femininity. The animus complex is a woman's male side, and the key to the creativity of her unconscious mind.