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Psychology of Communication: Johari Window
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Psychology of Communication: Johari Window
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The Johari Window is a graphical representation of those aspects of our self which are known or unknown to us and known or unknown to others.
Thus, when we meet, my age, sex and so on are in the Open Pane of the Window, as they are known to both of us.
In the Hidden Pane are those things I know about, but I don't want you to know about - maybe my irrational fear of heights, my sexual fantasies etc.
In the Blind Pane are those aspects of my self that I don't know about, but you do - for example, that I am quick-tempered, noisy, boring and suffer from appalling B.O.
In the Unknown Pane are my characteristics which neither of us know about - for example a history of childhood sexual abuse, which I have so successfully repressed that I have no memory of it, even though it colours my relationships with other people.
Humanist psychologist Carl Rogers and others suggest that some degree of self-disclosure benefits relationships, increases self-esteem and leads to a more stable self-image. By changing what is in one pane, you change what is in the others. If you seek feedback from people, then you will learn things about yourself that you didn't know before, but others were aware of. Thus, those things are shifted from the Blind Pane into the Open Pane. If you give other people feedback about yourself, you will shift things from the Hidden Pane to the Open Pane. This all involves self-disclosure, a willingness to put your trust in others. It involves taking risks, as we reveal things to others which we've kept private up to now.
In our society there are various limitations on self-disclosure: people of higher status generally reveal less about themselves to people of lower status; women generally reveal more to women, than they do to men.
Judy Gahagan points out that self-disclosure is seen as an indicator of positive mental health. It implies trust in others and self-acceptance, it reduces the need for defensiveness and the potential for embarrassment. It shows self-confidence and is often reciprocated. By revealing something about yourself, you are likely to encourage people to reveal something about themselves in return. You'll also get to know who you are - you can well find that features of yourself which you find embarrassing or shameful are considered by others to be entirely acceptable; but you won't learn that unless you're willing to reveal something.
Humanistic personality theories
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