The Johari Window

Today I learned about an eye-opening model used in the psychology and communication world. This tool, created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1995 will help you better understand interpersonal communications and relationships. It contains four panes and it helps explain the roles of self-awareness and self disclosure in relationships. I found it to be incredibly useful that I knew I needed to share it with others.



Open: Known to self

The part of the self containing information that is known to both the self and others. This size and content depends on your relationship to the "others."
Examples include: Name, age, occupation, etc.

Blind: Not known to self

The part of the self known to others, but not known to oneself; being oblivious about your own faults and virtues. The "stuff" that drives others "crazy" about you.
Examples include: Interrupting, not taking your shoes off open entering a friends' home, not staying in contact, etc.

Hidden: Known to self

The part of the self that contains information about the self known to oneself, but that is hidden from others.
Food for thought: What would it take to reveal some of this information to others? How much self-disclosure would it take to have a commonality with someone? How long do you need to know someone to reveal this information?
Examples include: A secret that you are selective in who you tell.

Unknown: Not known to self

The part of the self that that is unknown to oneself and others.
Food for thought: What do you think determines more development in this area?
Examples include: A moment where you realize something you cannot believe you did not realize before.

If you want to know more about The Johari Window, search about it on the web. I have only included the knowledge that I understand and grasp about this concept. There is more to this tool than what I learned about in class.