Bs 101 module 2 - self awareness

Behavioural Science - SELF AWARENESS 1

Moumita MukherjeeMoumita MukherjeeMoumita MukherjeeMoumita 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

individual’s 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 you see in me

What you do not see in me

What I see in me 1. The Open Self

3. The Private (or Hidden) Self

What I do not see in me

2. The Blind 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



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 Naïve 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.



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 don’t

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 don’t 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 self-

conscious as objective evaluators of ourselves. However self-awareness is not to be confused with self-

consciousness. 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 self–awareness 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 self-

awareness) 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.



� 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 it’s 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 one’s

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

one’s strengths and weaknesses. It results in an individual’s 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 one’s 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) 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.

2) 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.



3) 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.

4) 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.

5) 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.

6) 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).

7) 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 one’s 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 self-

acceptance 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).

Education

Bs 101 module 2 - self awareness