Final answer:
Myths, according to Carl Jung, are crucial for connecting individuals to the collective unconscious and integrating archetypal themes into our personal development, particularly in later stages of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Carl Jung, myths serve a fundamental role in connecting us to the collective unconscious, which is a repository of the experiences, patterns, and memory traces shared among all humans. These common experiences are represented through archetypes found in myths prevalent across various cultures and through universal themes in literature, art, and dreams. Myths emanate from these archetypes and portray common human experiences like facing death or striving for mastery, which are deeply rooted in our biological heritage. Jung emphasized that myths contribute to our process of self-realization by helping us integrate these unconscious elements into our consciousness, particularly in the second half of life. Additionally, myths explain and order the world, provide a notion of collective identity, and are crucial in shaping societies by affirming values and social norms.