Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS

Moumita Mukherjee

Self Exploration through Johari Window

Johari window is a frame work of self-exploration and communication, devised by two famous
psychologists, JOSEPH LUFT AND HARRY INGHAM in the 1950s, and the term JOHARI was coined by
using parts of their first names. The Johari window is a simple tool for making sense of who we are. Luft
and Ingham observed that there are aspects of our personality that we are open about, and other
elements that we keep to ourselves. The dimensions of Johari Window are representative of an
individuals whole personality or psyche. The dimensions are what I see and do not see, what others see
and do not see, as illustrated in the following diagram:

What I see in me
What I do not see in me

What you see in me

1. The Open Self
2. The Blind Self

What you do not see in me

3. The Private (or Hidden) Self
4. The Unknown Self

Four quadrants of the JOHARI Window

1. What is known by the person about him/herself and is also known by others open area, open self,
free area, free self, or 'the arena'.
2. What is unknown by the person about him/herself but which others know - blind area, blind self, or
'blind spot'.
3. What the person knows about him/herself that others do not know - hidden area, hidden self,
avoided area, avoided self or 'facade'.
4. What is unknown by the person about him/herself and is also unknown by others -unknown area or
unknown self.
Quadrant 1: Open Self/Area' or 'Free Area' or 'Public Area', or 'Arena'
Open self is also known as the 'area of free activity'. This is the information about the person- behaviour,
attitude, feelings, emotion, knowledge, experience, skills, views, etc. - known both by the person ('the
self') and known by the group ('others'). The aim in any group should ideally be to develop the 'open
area' for every person, because when we work in this area with others we are at our most effective and
productive and the group is at its most productive too. The open free area, or 'the arena', can be seen as
the space where good communications and cooperation occur, free from distractions, mistrust,
confusion, conflict and misunderstanding. Top performing groups, departments, companies and
organizations typically tend to have a culture of open positive communication, so encouraging the
positive development of the 'open area' or 'open self' for everyone.
Quadrant 2: 'Blind Self' or 'Blind Area' or 'Blind Spot'
Blind self is what is known about a person by others in the group, but is unknown to the person
him/herself. By seeking or soliciting feedback from others, the aim should be to reduce this area and
thereby to increase the open area i.e., to increase self-awareness. This blind area is not an effective or
productive space for individuals or groups. This blind area could also be referred to as ignorance about
oneself. A blind area could also include issues that others are deliberately withholding from a person.
Managers should promote a climate of non-judgemental feedback, and group response to individual
disclosure, which reduces fear and therefore encourages both processes to happen.
Quadrant 3: 'Hidden Self' or 'Hidden Area' or 'Avoided Self/Area' or 'Facade'
This hidden or avoided self represents information, feelings, etc., anything that a person knows about
him/self, but which is not revealed or is kept hidden from others. The hidden area could also include
sensitivities, fears, hidden agendas, manipulative intentions, and secrets - anything that a person knows
but does not reveal, for whatever reason. It's natural for very personal and private information and

Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS

Moumita Mukherjee

feelings to remain hidden; indeed, certain information, feelings and experiences have no bearing on
work, and so can and should remain hidden, so far as a professional set up is concerned.
However, work/performance-related information is better positioned in the open area instead of being
kept hidden. The aim should be to disclose and expose relevant information and feelings - hence the
Johari Window terminology 'self-disclosure' and 'exposure process'; this would increase the open area.
By telling others our feelings and other information about ourselves, we reduce the hidden area, and
increase the open area, which effectively enables better understanding, cooperation, trust, team-work
effectiveness, and productivity. Reducing hidden areas also decreases the potential for confusion,
misunderstanding, poor communication, etc., which all distract from and undermine team effectiveness.
Quadrant 4: 'Unknown Self' or 'Area of Unknown Activity' or 'Unknown Area'
Unknown self contains information, feelings, latent abilities, aptitudes, experiences etc., that are
unknown to the person him/herself, and also unknown to others in the group. These unknown issues
take a variety of forms: they can be feelings, behaviours, attitudes, capabilities, aptitudes, which can be
close to the surface, and which can be positive and useful; they can also be deeper aspects of a person's
personality, influencing his/her behaviour to various degrees. The processes by which the information
and knowledge can be uncovered are various, and can be prompted through self-discovery, or
observation by others, or, in certain situations, through collective or mutual discovery. Managers and
leaders can help by creating an environment that encourages self-discovery. Self-discovery helps people
to fulfil more of their potential and achieve more, and consequently contribute more to organizational
performance.
Key characteristics of self with the help of Johari Window: Four personas
Associated with the Johari Window, we can define four different personas, based on which
'Self' is the largest for each individual.
A. The Open Persona: Someone with an Open Persona is both very self-aware (with a small blind self)
and is quite happy to reveal their self to others (a small private self). The Open person is mostly
relaxed. They are so comfortable with their self that they are not ashamed or troubled with the
notion of how other people seeing them. With a small Blind Self, they make less social errors and
cause less embarrassment. They are also in a more powerful position in negotiations, where they
have less weakness to be exploited.
B. The Naive Persona: The Naive Person has a large Blind Self that others can see. They may make
significant social mistakes and not even realize what they have done or how others see them. They
hide little about themselves and are typically considered as harmless by others, who either treat them
kindly, or take unkind advantage of their innocence. The individuals with Nave Persona lack the
emotional intelligence to see how others see them.
C. The Secret/Hidden Persona: When a person has a large Private Self, they may appear distant and
secretive to others. They talk little about themselves and may spend a significant amount in their own
private world. In conversations they say little and are well aware of their introverted tendencies.
Their introversion is often a result of personal traumas that have led them to retreat from the world.
D. The Mysterious/Unknown Persona: These people are a mystery to themselves as well as to other
people. They act in strange ways and do not notice it. As these people know relatively little about
themselves, they are not able to relate either to themselves or to others. They may alternatively just
prefer to live in the moment, taking each day as it comes and not seeking self-awareness.
Conclusion: Johari Window is a quick communication model that can be used to improve understanding
between individuals. This can successfully be used by facilitators, therapists, consultants and managers.
People may be encouraged to have more open and public self (if this serves their interests) by inspiring
them to share more and to seek honest feedback from others.

Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS

Moumita Mukherjee

Using Johari window for Self Awareness

Every one of us acts and behaves within all four quadrants. We are all open and honest and aware of our
skill sets and abilities, however we all hold back information from others as well. There are often things
that other people are aware of what we do not know. People react to things differently and people have
different perspectives, even when experiencing the same situation. Blind spots help us what we dont
know about ourselves but others know and we also have unknown areas. Playing in the Open self-area
is where Happiness and Success can be fulfilled. You will build trust in your relationships, enhance your
communication, build cooperation with others and be more effective and productive. To help you play
within the Open Self area, remember the following points:

Reveal yourself: Share your thoughts and feelings with others. Let others know your skills and
capabilities. The more that others know about you, the better they are able to assist you in reaching
your goals.

Seek feedback: Never be afraid to ask for feedback from others. You accept what you dont know
and feedback is an essential ingredient for building self-awareness, helping you to move into the
Open Self arena.

Test your limits: Try new experiences and expand your comfort zone. Build your self-awareness by
testing yourself in new situations and surrounding yourself with others who are able to provide
insights to you.
Stages of Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize
oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals. Self-Awareness Theory,
developed by Duval and Wicklund in 1972, state that when we focus our attention on ourselves, we
evaluate and compare our current behaviour to our internal standards and values. We become selfconscious as objective evaluators of ourselves. However self-awareness is not to be confused with selfconsciousness. Individuals become conscious of themselves through the development of self-awareness.
This particular type of self-development pertains to becoming conscious of one's own body and mental
state of mind including thoughts, actions, ideas, feelings and interactions with others. Self-awareness
does not occur suddenly through one particular behaviour rather it develops gradually through a
succession of different behaviours all of which relate to the self. In developing selfawareness through
self-exploration and social experiences one can broaden their social world and become more familiar
with the self.
According to Philippe Rochat (Emory University, USA), there are five levels of self-awareness which
unfold in early development and six potential prospects ranging from "Level 0" (having no selfawareness) to "Level 5" (explicit self-awareness).

Level 0: Confusion. At this level, the individual has a degree of zero self-awareness. This person is
unaware of any mirror reflection. They perceive the mirror as an extension of their environment.

Level 1: Differentiation. The individual realizes the mirror is able to reflect things. They see that
what is in the mirror is different from what is surrounding them. At this level, one can differentiate
between their own movement in the mirror and the movement of the surrounding environment.

Level 2: Situation. At this point, an individual can link the movements on the mirror to what is
perceived within their own body. This is the first hint of self-exploration on a projected surface
where what is visualized on the mirror is special to the self.

Level 3: Identification. The individual finds out that recognition takes effect. One can now see that
what is in the mirror is not another person but it is actually themselves. It is seen when a child refers
to them self while looking in the mirror instead of referring to the mirror while referring to
themselves. They have now identified self.

Level 4: Permanence. Once an individual reaches this level, they can identify the self beyond the
present mirror imagery. They are able to identify the self in previous pictures looking different or
younger. A "permanent self" is now experienced.

Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS

Moumita Mukherjee

Level 5: Self-consciousness or "meta" self-awareness. At this level, not only is the self, seen from a
first person point of view, but its also seen from a third person point of view. They begin to
understand they can be in the mind of others. For instance, how they are seen from a public
standpoint.

Self-Acceptance
Rogers (1961) defined self-acceptance as unconditional positive regard for oneself, including ones
experiences, thoughts, feelings, and very being. According to Shepard (1979), self-acceptance is an
individual's satisfaction or happiness with himself. Self-acceptance is a central feature of mental health.
High self-acceptance is characterized by having a positive attitude toward oneself, acknowledging and
accepting multiple aspects of self (both the positive and the negative), and being positive about the past
(Ryff, 1989). Low self-acceptance is characterized by feeling dissatisfied with oneself and disappointed
with past. Additionally, the person might feel troubled about some personal qualities, and wish to be
different than who he or she is today. Self-acceptance involves self-understanding and awareness of
ones strengths and weaknesses. It results in an individuals feeling about himself that he is of unique
worth. There are 3 important aspects of self-acceptance, noted as follows:
1. Self-acceptance is acceptance of self in spite of deficiencies
2. Self-acceptance is thought to be necessary for good mental health
3. Self-acceptance is considered the catalyst for positive changes in our lives
Ways of increasing Self-Acceptance

Having deeper, more meaningful relationships

Developing a sense of purpose

Accepting ones own limitations

Increasing your sense of satisfaction, peace

Developing a holistic purpose in life

Stages of Self Realization

Self-realization is defined as the fulfilment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality.
Mortimer Adler defines self-realization as freedom from external coercion, including cultural expectations,
political and economic freedom, and the freedom from worldly attachments and desires etc.
The three dimensions of self-realization represent the perfect, mutually dependent structure of our
complete self. These are personal, individual and universal. To arrive at completion, we must realize our
true self on those three levels. If one is missing, as usually happens, the others remain incomplete or
even fall apart. The personal dimension of self-realization refers to our awakening on the level of me:
self-realizing me, arriving at the state of pure subjectivity within the consciousness of me only. The
individual dimension of self-realization refers to the awakening of our higher individuality, our soul. The
universal dimension of self-realization refers to arriving at the state of unity and merging with the
source of existence. These three aspects of our evolution are absolutely interdependent and mutually
supportive.
Self-Realization happens in seven stages through spirituality as a real art of living, noted as follows:
1)

2)

The stage of wisdom - Perform your duties without expecting results. The person dedicates his
actions to the Spirit [or the Universe], expects nothing, his mind and personality controlled, without
greed, doing bodily actions only; though he acts, yet he remains untainted. The person is happy
within his self and has found peace.
The stage of self-questioning: Self-questioning does not mean merely to repeat the question Who
am I? over and over again in our minds. It questions our internal identity as an embodied being and
as a mind. The true Self-questioning is not only beyond human distinctions, but also beyond all
conceivable divisions of time and space, name and form, birth and death.

Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS

Moumita Mukherjee
3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

Thinned mind (Meditation and Withdrawal of the Senses - Pratyaharaya) The stage wherein the
desire after sensual objects is thinned through the first and second stages. Pratyahara is the
withdrawal of the senses (indriyas) of cognition and action from both the external world and the
images or impressions in the mind field.
The attainment of Sattva - The stage wherein being indifferent to all sensual objects through the
exercise of first three stages, the purified intellect and mind rests on the Spirit. One aspect of this is
Eating Vegetarian Food. Pure Satvik food, Satvik life, satvik actions, eat vegetarian (No onion, garlic,
potato, mushroom, meat or fish, drinking alcohol in the diet), fasting on water or juices; Silence
(Talk less), Meditation, Self-Control, etc.
Non attachment - The light (or manifestation) of Sattva-Guna (Pure knowledge) that is firmly rooted
(in one) without any desire for the fruits of actions through the practice in the above four stages.
You only have the right to work, but none to the fruit thereof. Perform all your actions with mind
concentrated on the Divine.
Analysis of objects - The person has found delight in spirit. He has no conception of the internals
and externals (though before him) and engages in actions only when impelled to do so. Having
always inward vision though ever participating in external actions, those that are engaged in the
practice of this (sixth stage) are seen such as one sleeping when fatigued (viz., being freed from all
affinities).
Self-Realization stage - The stage wherein after exceedingly long practice of above six stages one is
fixed in the thought of Self alone without the difference (of the universe). Then one remains in a
state without fear and with his consciousness where there is neither Sat (honesty) nor Asat
(dishonesty), neither self nor not-self. Like an empty pot in the Sky, there is void both within and
without; like a filled vessel in the midst of an ocean, he is full both within and without.

Relationship among Self Awareness, Acceptance, and Realization

Self-awareness is the ability to know and understand ourselves, especially our feelings, our inherent
weaknesses and our latent capabilities where we need to improve or change. Through awareness we can
effectively carry out our personal development. Self-acceptance implies accepting own strengths as well
as weaknesses unconditionally. Most of us dwell consistently on our limitations, which diminishes our
self-esteem and self-confidence, thereby affecting our self-acceptance. Self-realization helps in
understanding ones own efforts, potentialities and overcoming personal weaknesses. It involves rational
and impartial observation of your own emotional and mental states and identifying the possibilities of
personal development.
Above definitions on self-acceptance, self-awareness and self-realization indicate the relationship among
these concepts. Lower levels of self-realization and self-acceptance affect self-awareness. When selfacceptance exists, it is easier for the person to become self-aware. To become more self-accepting,
people need to increase their self-awareness. Increasing your self-awareness means acknowledging and
experiencing your emotions, as well as intellectually understanding yourself. There are many ways to
increase your self-awareness such as awareness of self-critical thoughts and negative feelings, sharing
your experience with your supportive friends.
Some research findings also reveal the relationship among all these concepts, such as:
a. Self-acceptance makes self-awareness more possible (Rogers, 1961)
b. Self-acceptance and awareness are responsible for high quality interpersonal relationships (Vingoe, 1967).
c. Self-awareness allows for one to become more self-accepting. On the other hand, self-acceptance is
an aspect of self-realization (Ryff & Keyes, 1995).