The Johari window

[Nicholas Fahrenheit]

There exists a concept designed to define the self from multiple viewpoints, a concept that attempts to further navigate the puzzle of the unconscious mind. As humans we have a series of habits, behaviours and views that can be classified as either conscious or unconscious. Plainly put, we either know something about oursef or we do not. Both what we know and what we dont know about ourselves is a massive amount of information that can never be hoped to organise. A psychological theory was put forward to explain all of this, touching on subjects like dreams and deja vu it is both one of the simplest and the most difficult ideas to comprehend. The Johari window is a simple idea purely illustrated in a 2 by 2 grid..



Invented by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham it shows the realms of consciouness. It examples that a behaviours that may be unconscious to you can be observed by other people but not by yourself and vice versa.

Quadrant one: Open 'I know this about myself, and you know it about me'
This quadrant is common knowledge that you share with other people, the size of your open window will be sized according to how well you know that person. A complete stranger an I will have a small or non existent open window.

Quadrant two: Blind 'You know this about me, but I am unaware of it'
This is behaviour that can be observed that only the oberver knows, if I unintentionally dirty my pants and you notice it, this exists in the blind quadrant. Blind knowledge is often ticks and somtimes rituals. A common example is beat keeping during music, another example in keeping with the music theme is the ritualistic manner in which a dancer will prepare for a move or a certain stretch of song.

Quadrant three: Hidden 'Things that I know about myself that you do not'
Q3 entirely revolves around trust, in an ongoing LTR a good aim is to decrease the size of your Hidden quadrant. The general flow is for information to leave Q3 and enter Q1. It is nearly impossible for you to erase your Q3 with a person because of the vast amount of knowledge you have about yourself.

Quadrant four: 'Neither you or I can see them in myself'
Q4 is the single most important part of the Johari window concept, information in this window is mystery to everybody. This window is also the most important to your lifestyle and everything that is trying to be accomplished in this site. The most common example of information in Q4 is de ja vu, unknown familiarlarity. Learning things about yourself that you do not know is the key to becoming a better form of yourself. There are realms of the human psyche that require a certain key to be unlocked.. You may not presently have the key, but the process of obtaining the key is what takes place in this forum. Behviours and attitudes that you never knew you had come flying out when you better yourself; push yourself; scare yourself and amaze yourself. Becoming a confident and strong individual can reveal more to you than any amount of hypnosis.

Now that you know this, I strongly recomend that you attempt to apply it wherever you can. In any mans quest, his urge to empty Q4 may itself reside in Q4 but it is there, and I have just done those of you who've read this a favour, I have revealed to you, your urge to know more about yourself.

Namaste

[Mark Couch]

Very interesting concept. Is this something that is in the process of being researched or is there more info on it somewhere?

[Ian Smith]

Very well written, and with a good point.

Every day should be a learning experience for each of us. Pay attention, observe, analyze, and reflect. We weren't given these amazing intellectual capabilities for no reason, use them! And enjoy today.

Namaste.

[Nicholas Fahrenheit]

Nah Mark, this has been around for ages, there is plenty of information about it around the web if you want to know more. My summary of Q4 dosent nearly do justice to the profoundness of it. A lot more reading is nessecary to properly understand it.

[Mark Couch]

Ok I was just curious. This looks like something I would like to research some more. I shall Google it!

[Hector M.]

outdated information. The below is a product of ignornace i myself rejected as a product of ignornace. Disregard below information

i've looked into this concept...

Q1 is where most people keep their socially conditioned knowledge and social skills in effect.

Q2 is linked to social proof, and if observed correctly, becomes a q1 and is manageable. However,in lifestyle and social context, q2 is the worst possible state of consciousness to be. I'll take a guess and say this is where individual flaws and lack of intuition takes place.

Q3 is the most important thing any human can ever hold true to. It is the information that only you yourself knows, and cannot be interpreted by anyone. Usually, it's in the form of specialized knowledge, secrets, and ideals no one else knows. It becomes q1 when you speak on it. Q3 is where human genius and strategy comes into play.

Q4...what you dont know. It can become q3, q2, or q1, depending on awareness and sharp wit. You'd want it to be a q3, maybe q2. If it's q1, then it becomes common knowledge.

Summary:

Q1 is common knowledge (useless for adaptation)
q2 is ignorance (read the signs, make a solution)
q3 is specialized knowledge (stay silent on these bits of knowledge. These are usually keys to success)
q4 is new knowledge (if spotted, chase it and learn from it as if it were a free-for-all. The longer it takes to internalize q4s, the faster it goes from q3 to q1).

Good find nf. Good find.

disclaimer end

[Nicholas Fahrenheit]

Bump - I want more people to read this.