Persona, Career and Mental Health

Authors

  • Leonard Almeida de Moraes Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro – UFTM. Department of Psychology. Uberaba/MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0439-0360
  • Iúri Novaes Luna Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC. Department of Psychology. Florianópolis/SC, Brazil.
  • Walter Melo Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei – UFSJ. São João del-Rei/MG, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21901/2448-3060/self-2026.vol-11.246

Keywords:

occupations, organizational psychology, mental health, Collective unconscious, international, Jungian psychology, dreams.

Abstract

The theoretical-reflective essay explores the dynamic between career and mental health from the Jungian concept of persona. Defined as the social mask an individual adopts to interact with the world, the persona relates to career development and can either contribute to or present an obstacle to career adaptability, with impacts on mental health. In relation to career, the persona can perform as both a protective factor and a risk to mental health. The essay emphasizes the need for a balance between external expectations and the authentic expressions of the ego and the Self in career processes. Thus, this study utilized a theoretical approach based on works by Jung and other authors. The objective was to offer, in an original way, an integrated view of the interaction of these three concepts: persona, career, and mental health, which are often presented independently in the literature.

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Author Biographies

Leonard Almeida de Moraes, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro – UFTM. Department of Psychology. Uberaba/MG, Brazil.

Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM). He holds undergraduate degrees in Computer Science from the State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT) and in Psychology from Avantis University Center (UNIAVAN), as well as a master’s degree in Knowledge Engineering and Management and a PhD in Psychology from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).

Iúri Novaes Luna, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC. Department of Psychology. Florianópolis/SC, Brazil.

Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Graduate Program in Psychology (PPGP) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and a PhD in Political Sociology from UFSC.

Walter Melo, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei – UFSJ. São João del-Rei/MG, Brazil.

Associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ). Faculty member in the graduate programs in Psychology at UFSJ and the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Coordinator of Caminhos Junguianos—Laboratory for Research in Analytical Psychology. He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), and a PhD in Social Psychology from UERJ. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Université de Paris–Sorbonne (France) and at the National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

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Published

2026-07-22

How to Cite

Moraes, L. A. de, Luna, I. N., & Melo, W. (2026). Persona, Career and Mental Health. Self - Revista Do Instituto Junguiano De São Paulo, 11, e006. https://doi.org/10.21901/2448-3060/self-2026.vol-11.246

Issue

Vol. 11 (2026): Self - Revista do IJUSP

Section

Reflection article (essay)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Self - Revista do Instituto Junguiano de São Paulo

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