Expanding the Johari Windows to Describe Interpersonal Communication
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i10.7445Keywords:
higher education, self-disclosure, reciprocal communication, Johari Window, transactional communicationAbstract
During the past 40 years considerable focus has been placed on the Johari Window (Luft, 1984), a tool designed to understand the process of self-disclosure and to increase self-awareness of the conscious and unconscious knowledge of self. Typically, a single, four quadrant model is employed to achieve these goals. The present paper offers an expansion to the application of the original model. Rather than a single model representing two interactants, two interlinked windows are recommended. This change provides a unique window for each interactant participating in the communication process. The window for each interactant has three unique quadrants (i.e., Blind, Hidden, and Unknown) and a shared Open quadrant. The proposed modification to the original Johari Window model illustrate more clearly the transactional nature of self-disclosure and provide the means to quantify and analyze the reciprocal awareness resulting from self-disclosure. These benefits offer a more sophisticated basis for instruction and research.
References
Archer, R.L. (1979). Role of personality and the social situation. In G.J. Chelune (Ed.), Self-disclosure: Origins, patterns, and implications of openness in interpersonal relationships (pp. 28–58). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Gouldner, A. (1960). The norm of reciprocity: A preliminary statement. American Sociological Review, 25(2), 161–178.
Greenblatt, L., Hasenauer, E., & Freimuth, V.S. (1980). Psychological sex type and androgyny in the study of communication variables. Human Communication Research, 8, 117–129.
Knapp, M.L., & Vangelisti, A. (2000). Interpersonal communication in human relationships (4th ed.). Newton, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Luft, J. (1969). Of human interaction. Palo Alto, CA: National Press Books.
Luft, J. (1984). Group processes: An introduction to group dynamics (3rd ed.). Bethesda, MA: Mayfield Publishing Company.
Powell, J. (1969). Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? Niles, Illinois: Argus Communications.
Thibaut, J.W., & Kelley, H.H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. New York: John Wiley.
