Synopsis: Several genetically enhanced individuals come to Deep Space Nine to work with Dr. Bashir.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of how some bits of material from the Eros-driven unconscious that are unwanted, what Carl (C. G.) Jung would call the shadow, can be difficult to acknowledge and integrate because of societal pressure. Jung felt that the shadow contained not only traits that were perceived as negative, but also those that can be deemed positive but had been cast off in order for the individual to exist in one’s culture.
In “Statistical Probabilities” four individuals who had their DNA re-sequenced when they were children arrive at Deep Space Nine. DNA re-sequencing being an outlawed practice and the children to whom this was done are feared by society because of their super-human capabilities. They are brought to the station by their physician, Dr. Karen Loew, to work with Dr. Julian Bashir, who himself had such a procedure done on himself when he was a child. The individuals overhear what is going on in the war with the Dominion and through their enhancements are able to provide valuable insights to the Federation. However, when not all their recommendations are accepted, one of the enhanced individuals takes it upon himself to contact the Dominion forces without authorization. This results in the individuals being asked to leave the station and return to where they were being treated for being unable to fit into society.
In this episode when Bashir realizes the capabilities of the genetically enhanced individuals and brings their insights to Captain Benjamin Sisko, this can be seen as analogous to when the conscious ego accepts “positive” bits of shadow material from the unconscious and integrates them into itself. Similarly, the enhanced individuals being sent back to where they came from after one contacted the enemy without authorization can be compared to the conscious ego deciding once again to suppress the doings of the more negative aspects of the shadow. However, in the ego there has been some change, some movement toward more wholeness, even if it is small.
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