What is the Johari Window?
By my teenage daughter, Emerson Walker
A helpful psychological tool used to understand yourself more clearly is the Johari Window. This model was invented by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955 and is separated into four separate sections. Each is designed to improve both self and social awareness.
The quadrants, or “panes” include:
One: “What I know about myself and like to reveal to others”
Description: This quadrant would be the information that everyone knows about you. You can openly share these aspects of yourself, which ultimately causes better overall communication and allows for more receptive feedback from others. The goal of the Johari Window is to expand this quadrant.
Examples:
- If you know yourself to be an extrovert, it is very possible that others know this about you, too.
- If you are naturally funny and you are aware of it, others know it as well.
- Your friends and family know your favorite food, movie, place, etc.
Application: Being aware of what you share with everyone you encounter can tell you how much you trust them and are willing to be vulnerable in front of them.
TWO: “What I know about myself but conceal from others”
Definition: This includes thoughts, emotions, and secrets about yourself that make you too uncomfortable to share with anyone. Although it is good to keep boundaries between you and others, too many of them can harm relationships by concealing too much information from them and creating distance.
Examples:
- If you have a fear or something that seems “childish” or “weird,” you should keep it to yourself to prevent judgment from others.
- If you have an insecurity about yourself, like an “extra toe” or an abnormal trait, you hide it as much as possible because you’re afraid of what others would think about you if they knew.
Application: Revealing more of your thoughts and emotions can strengthen relationships by establishing connections and trust between the relationships.
THREE: “What I don’t know about myself but others do know”
Definition: This quadrant consists of annoying habits and unconscious behaviors that you don’t know that you have but most people notice and take note of. In this case, others need to be comfortable telling you what you don’t know so that you become more self-aware and don’t unintentionally harm others.
Examples:
- Saying “um” or “like” can be your first instinct and you’re oblivious to it, but it may annoy everyone around you.
- Constantly cracking your knuckles, clearing your throat, clicking a pen, tapping your foot, is noticeable to everyone except you sometimes.
Application: Getting feedback about habits in this quadrant that you don’t know about can support growth in both yourself and your peers.
FOUR: “What I don’t know about myself and others also don’t know”
Definition: Things that are simply unknown about yourself to everyone would belong in this quadrant. Trying new experiences is a common and healthy way to unlock the mysteries here.
Examples:
- Hidden talents, like being a really fast runner, could be something that absolutely nobody knows about you because you’ve never tried.
- For some people, not knowing who their biological parents are is something they can struggle with constantly because of its secrecy.
Why is the Johari Window Important?
Application: Figuring out these unknowns can further your understanding of yourself in ways unimaginable right now.
New challenges, experiences, victories, and even losses can all further build your character.