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.
Good work,well elucidated
Really helpful and detailed explanation and reflects the level of research done. It is very simple to understand and follow. Well done !!
Very educative and factual
I learned this 30 – 35yrs ago, I am very happy it is still out there and useful.
I have an occasion to use again…………..
Simple to follow and understand . These are the best notes ever . Well done
THANKS HELPFUL INFORMATION
Well applied in military training
Re-acquainting with the model…we utilized in the 1980-90’s in the computer industry to orient new managers and to improve communication in newly combined business units.
summarization above was very helpful.
I love Johari!!!!
Very useful
I understand this, but can being more open to others leave you open to damaging feedback?
A wonderful structured tool for assessing level of self awareness.
i still use this knowledge in military operations and science
Really dilated… Just read this once and understood . As tomorrow i will be writing this in my exam.. I hope it will help.
More thanks because these notes to us it’s very important and useful to our daily lives , this helps on how you can interact with people and well communication with them ,well done!!!
Simple and insightful…
Well sammarised and so easy to understand, this will be helpful in health sector. Am so happy to find such kind of information.
helpful
Excellent concept. How can one identify things that are in the blind spot. Typically, people don’t share areas that one should be improving upon.
Johari is such an interesting
Well laid out and explained. Clears our thought process and help us in seeing the bigger picture
Very interesting, enlightening and applicable to each of our lives! God bless you, Randy
I’m confused
I have always struggled with interpersonal relationships and someone much wiser than me is teaching me about this, it seems like something that can help me, thank you for the Johari method
Well explained and simplified. Thank you.
Well explained and quite insightful.
Very informative & valuable information…for our career growth specially when you are in people management role.
Thank you johar
Very helpful and good for self-awareness
thank you
nice. interesting.
Quite helpful this, well articulated for a quick read.
Johari’s principle is so vital in public Relations/Publicity .
Nice
Thank you for the message. Very interesting God bless you.
Interesting topic that is very well explained
Great tool to use as a first step in a performance review prioress. Also great to use with newlyweds. A popular tool to help people define what knowledge they have , they are lacking, and need to hire experts
This is absolutely insightful. I am grateful for the opportunity.
I love Johari, it is a great tool to use.
It quite useful and reminds me my Communication Skills Lecturer Ms Catherine now the late. R.I.P
I first saw this yesterday when our pastor did a presentation to us. I found the presentation a bit difficult to understand.
Am really amazed after browsing through this one it is so simple and clear!
There is always room for self-improvement, even when your shy.
Well detailed,I like it!
Simple and clear
It is really an educative research
Very helpful.
Thanks
Explained very nicely, it will be very useful.
Well explained and educative thanks
nice it change some thing
simple and clearly explanation ,i using it up today.
thanks