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The Johari Window Model

History

It is necessary to improve self-awareness and personal development among individuals when they are in a group. The ‘Johari’ window model is a convenient method used to achieve this task of understanding and enhancing communication between the members in a group. American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham developed this model in 1955. The idea was derived as the upshot of the group dynamics in University of California and was later improved by Joseph Luft. The name ‘Johari’ came from joining their first two names. This model is also denoted as feedback/disclosure model of self-awareness.

Introduction

The Johari window model is used to enhance the individual’s perception on others. This model is based on two ideas- trust can be acquired by revealing information about you to others and learning yourselves from their feedbacks. Each person is represented by the Johari model through four quadrants or window pane. Each four window panes signifies personal information, feelings, motivation and whether that information is known or unknown to oneself or others in four viewpoints.

The Johari Window Model

The method of conveying and accepting feedback is interpreted in this model. A Johari is represented as a common window with four panes. Two of these panes represent self and the other two represent the part unknown to self but to others. The information transfers from one pane to the other as the result of mutual trust which can be achieved through socializing and the feedback got from other members of the group.

1. Open/self-area or arena – Here the information about the person his attitudes, behaviour, emotions, feelings, skills and views will be known by the person as well as by others. This is mainly the area where all the communications occur and the larger the arena becomes the more effectual and dynamic the relationship will be. ‘Feedback solicitation’ is a process which occurs by understanding and listening to the feedback from another person. Through this way the open area can be increased horizontally decreasing the blind spot. The size of the arena can also be increased downwards and thus by reducing the hidden and unknown areas through revealing one’s feelings to other person.

2. Blind self or blind spot – Information about yourselves that others know in a group but you will be unaware of it. Others may interpret yourselves differently than you expect. The blind spot is reduced for an efficient communication through seeking feedback from others.

3. Hidden area or façade – Information that is known to you but will be kept unknown from others. This can be any personal information which you feel reluctant to reveal. This includes feelings, past experiences, fears, secrets etc. we keep some of our feelings and information as private as it affects the relationships and thus the hidden area must be reduced by moving the information to the open areas.

4. Unknown area – The Information which are unaware to yourselves as well as others. This includes the information, feelings, capabilities, talents etc. This can be due to traumatic past experiences or events which can be unknown for a lifetime. The person will be unaware till he discovers his hidden qualities and capabilities or through observation of others. Open communication is also an effective way to decrease the unknown area and thus to communicate effectively.

Example

Linda got a job in an organization. Her co-workers knew a little about her and in this context the unknown and hidden areas will be larger and the open area will be small. As the others don’t know much about her the blind spot also will be smaller and the model will be as shown in Figure 1.

Linda spent most of her free time sketching in the office which was her preferred pastime and her co-workers found her very shy and elusive. With that evaluation she got the idea how she was and tried to be more talkative and interacted more with other co-workers. This helped her to increase her open area and thus making the hidden and unknown areas smaller. (Figure 2)

Through the feedback Linda got from her co-workers she could perform well in the office and her real capacity could be obtained as a result of an effective interaction among the colleagues.

{ 190 comments… add one }
  • Dr N.G.S.prasad February 21, 2013, 3:40 pm

    nice

  • judith prager June 26, 2013, 2:59 pm

    simpl tool which can give many skilles

  • g r desai September 11, 2014, 6:43 am

    good material easy to follow

  • Alex innocent April 8, 2015, 1:31 am

    good idea

  • crystal x November 12, 2015, 1:22 pm

    Hi there, for all time i used to check website posts here early in the morning, as i like to find
    out more and more.

  • Rich November 13, 2015, 1:58 am

    The Johari Window Model is a discussion I use as a facilitator for job readiness. It’s always an eye opener for the class participants and is filled with rich conversation. Clients learn to look at themselves in a way never before. The Blind Spot usually is one window that clients love to discuss. Not realizing your own issues could be very problematic on the job and that’s why feedback and is so important.

  • olivier November 25, 2015, 2:13 pm

    people should open up like linda did and she helped herself

  • Nat Cooper December 12, 2015, 12:10 am

    Excellent and intelligent.

  • Muhereza Edison February 23, 2016, 9:28 pm

    Very wonderful discussion and helpful to employees especially the newly recruited!

  • gaolatlhe boitshekelo March 31, 2016, 2:01 pm

    i want to know how all these panes helps in the communication process

  • Albert Bittok July 19, 2016, 1:52 pm

    Easily understood, good work.

  • komal jayswal July 19, 2016, 3:19 pm

    Effective material

  • Maria Belinda Lucero Redor July 30, 2016, 2:20 pm

    Useful tool for my Communication Theories and Model class. Thank you.

  • uche martins October 15, 2016, 3:11 pm

    The Johari window is really a good model to ensure efficiency and effectiveness at work place

  • Jackline February 7, 2017, 6:22 pm

    I want to know how johari window model helps in our interpersonal communication

  • stelly gidion March 5, 2017, 8:45 am

    It’s suitable for building teamwork (students, college students, teachers and so on) Thank to RELO U.S. Embassy Jakarta and UI who tought me Johari Window

  • Lili June 8, 2017, 4:43 pm

    I love this model, it helps to understand that feedback can be a positive thing and knowing how to 1. accept feedback and 2. make the positive changes will lead to positive outcomes. Being more self aware is one thing, but understanding the blind spot is just as important.

  • RAHUL GOEL August 18, 2017, 9:54 am

    Excellent and intelligent.

  • Maube B stephen January 5, 2018, 5:52 pm

    I love it because it has made understand that communication without feedback is not complete

  • Maube B stephen January 5, 2018, 5:54 pm

    Nice one with a clear lesson that communication is a process from sending, receiving and giving feedback

  • kain tz January 31, 2018, 11:52 am

    i lov it, well organized and easy to understand….
    #kaintz

  • maseru likotsi May 8, 2018, 1:34 pm

    great work indeed….i love it

  • kosgei hezron July 5, 2018, 1:27 pm

    Interesting and easy to understand

  • Carroll L. July 6, 2018, 6:54 am

    I find the fourth quadrant exciting, since future acquired knowledge, learning and development results in personal growth which leads to self-confidence, positive change through making healthy informed choices, and new revelation of self, to oneself and others.

  • moses lemitil July 26, 2018, 12:14 pm

    good the method is just wonderful

  • K.Srinath July 29, 2018, 11:24 pm

    It is an Excellent tool for Managers provided they understand the meaning of each and every word. Many Institutions have indirectly adopted this Methodology without even knowing how it operates.

  • opondo michael oduor September 11, 2018, 2:47 pm

    I’ve understood it very well… You did a good work and has to be appreciated for sure… I had a cat which demanded me to have this knowledge and you helped me alot.

  • Awar Moses September 24, 2018, 1:35 am

    I like this most for my persomal references.

  • Padmashree October 9, 2018, 11:10 pm

    Good work easy to understand

  • Sam November 1, 2018, 7:53 am

    Wonderful ways of evaluating oneself and others in very simple way. Thank you!

  • Senavirathna November 6, 2018, 5:45 pm

    Best way to self study about urself and others too..the way they ar talking they ar cheating etc..

  • Wakabi Paul Humphrey November 27, 2018, 4:21 pm

    Good tool for understanding people in an organisation.

  • wangzhengxiao January 30, 2019, 4:41 am

    Good work for me and easy to understand

  • Joseph Jackson February 12, 2019, 12:11 pm

    It is well structured, insightful and informative.

  • Maitreyee February 13, 2019, 7:43 am

    Very intelligent and truly enlightening .
    But can this model be applied in our day to day transactions???

  • Karthik.S Selvam March 14, 2019, 11:25 am

    Thank you,it was easy to grasp especially thanks for the example.

  • Ebenezer Tyanai Charamba May 24, 2019, 6:34 pm

    that was correct and precise and that helped a lot.

  • Henry Onyango May 26, 2019, 12:19 am

    Have exams tomorrow about this …. thank you for this joharis window….. I now understand it better

  • Mary Brown June 10, 2019, 7:04 pm

    I have used this model for many years, I have also provided lectures on this to clients that are seeking help for Substance Use Disorders. Great way to explain this for newbie’s

  • lufemi Lawal June 13, 2019, 7:36 pm

    this simple but very educative analysis has given me the opportunity to give very important feedback to a colleague which became very useful to the team. I was also able to reflect on the feedback I got from work colleagues.
    very useful tool!

  • ESilkowski June 14, 2019, 7:51 pm

    Thanks for uploading this conscience explanation. I plan to use this material in my PROS Employment Success! class. Many struggle with communication and self advocacy skills

  • Brielle July 17, 2019, 11:57 am

    Very easy to understand
    Thank you

  • Daniel July 24, 2019, 10:59 am

    Very educative

  • Maker M Mager August 5, 2019, 6:52 pm

    This model is just amazing ,it gives the meaning of how some of us refused to get help,as one speaker one said ”reveal ur weakness and a true friend will substitute it with strength” this is what all this model means for us as far as team work is concern.Sometime we will be rushing with critics even before we have known someone much.

  • Abnh gy September 15, 2019, 8:58 am

    Coolest thing ever!

  • Sam njuguna September 24, 2019, 7:32 pm

    Interesting and easily understood.big ups.

  • Linda Handley September 30, 2019, 1:25 am

    I studied this in psychology in nursing school. It was so fascinating and eye opening. The biggest surprise for me, is getting to know your own self through the eyes of others, which can be so interesting.

  • Mr.Lahmacun October 18, 2019, 3:52 pm

    VERY GOOD

  • Nobovvat Delbasteh October 20, 2019, 2:54 am

    It was interesting.

  • Scholar Nahurira October 23, 2019, 6:52 pm

    this description and the given example are very good, interesting, simplified, and helpful to people interested in understanding themselves and others as well.

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