The Johari window owes its name to authors Joe Luft and Harry Ingham. It is a simple model for application in a group process. It clarifies how someone sees himself and how he is seen by others during a group process. Feedback from the group plays an important role in this. Using the Johari framework in a group creates a dynamic group process. Group members learn what feedback is and learn to give and receive feedback. This is the main and valuable function of the Johari window.
What is the Johari window?
The Johari Window consists of four quadrants that are the same size in a ‘normal’ situation. Each of those quadrants represents ‘spaces’ in which someone behaves outwardly or inwardly. So when one or more ‘spaces’ dominate or become subordinate to the other ‘spaces’, this must be worked on during the group process. The method is widely used to improve communication in self-help groups. It teaches the group members not to communicate everything blindly. With the help of the Johari window, one can find out what can and cannot be made public by the group members.
- Quadrant A: is the space in which the group member can move freely; it concerns daily external actions; his or her behavior and motivations that others can see and that the person is aware of.
- Quadrant B: is the behavior that the group member knows and is aware of, but which he does not want to show to others.
- Quadrant C: is the blind spot of one’s own perception. The behavior that is visible and recognizable to others, but of which the group member is not aware.
- Quadrant D: This is the area in which behaviors and thoughts are known to neither oneself nor others. This is usually not discussed during a group process. This is more of an individual process within psychotherapy.
Example for working with the Johari framework in a group process
For example, in a starting group, if quadrant A is very small and areas B and C dominate, you can clearly visualize the objective for the group process. The objective can then be; Increasing free space and clarifying blind spots. This is a process of giving and receiving feedback.
How do you enlarge a quadrant?
For example, if quadrant A were small and needed to be enlarged, there are several methods to do that:
- Disclosing information about yourself, self-disclosure reduces quadrant B
- Asking for and receiving feedback reduces quadrant C
It is of course important that every member and therefore the entire group must be motivated to learn and be willing to change.
Techniques and methods for a group process
Techniques and methods to increase the group’s learning process are;
- Accepting the self-image of others and taking it seriously
- Tell when your limits have been reached
- Willingness to increase knowledge. This also increases the willingness to give and receive feedback.
- This gives you certainty that people will listen to you without prejudice.
- Resistance to behavioral changes and the fear of working on the background of that fear also decreases.
- This allows you to reflect on your own situation and try out new activities.
- Through feedback you experience that you always have influence on others, also through your non-verbal behavior.