Carl Jung’s psychology describes the anima and animus as inner archetypes representing the opposite gender in the unconscious—anima in men, animus in women. Originating in parental influence and the collective unconscious, they shape moods, fantasies, and relationships. Integrating these figures enables individuation, self-knowledge, and wholeness, while ignoring them leads to projection, stagnation, and neurosis. Shadow work and active imagination are key to this lifelong process.