Those in literature define a Complex as something made up of multiple parts.
In Psychology we shall define it as an underlying theme with grouping clusters of emotions, memories, perceptions and wishes.
Combining the two definitions, we can see a Complex as a knot of beliefs, feelings and desires concerning a single underlying theme.
The proponent of this was Carl Jung in his depth Psychology studies where he claimed that majority of our personalities are driven unconciously.
The personal unconcious was dominated by complexes that were formed from past experiences.
These complexes may be conscious, partly conscious or unconcious in nature and come from emotional experiences.
They can be positive or negative. The negative complexes can cause us suffering.
The Anima and Animus.
Two major complexes proposed by Jung were anima and animus.
The anima was like a knot of beliefs and feelings present in a man’s psyche relating to the opposite gender.
The Animus on the other hand was present in Female’s psyche relating to the opposite gender.
Sigmund Freud on Complexes.
Freud studied about the Oedipus complex, explaining the developmental challenges that very young boys encountered. That young boys during the Phallic stage resented their father and had desires to have sex with their mothers.
A concept similar to Electra Complex that was proposed by his stubborn student Carl Jung where girls on the other hand competed with their mother for their father.
Other types of Complexes include; The Madonna-Whore complex, Mother complex, Father, hero, Brother, Sister, Cassandra, Guilt and Peter Pan Complex.