Читать книгу The Communication Playbook - Teri Kwal Gamble - Страница 139

At one time or another, we all wish that we knew ourselves and others better. The concept of self-awareness, so basic to all functions and forms of communication, can be explored through a psychological testing device known as the Johari window. Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham developed an illustration of a paned window to help us examine both how we view ourselves and how others view us (Figure 3.5).⁴⁰

Figure 3.5

Pane I, the open area, represents information about yourself that is known to you and another. For example, your name, age, religious affiliation, and food preferences might all be found in this window pane. The size and contents of this quadrant vary from one relationship to another, depending on the degree of closeness you share with the other person. Which people do you allow to know more about you than others?

Pane II, the blind area, contains information about you that others, but not you, are aware of. Some people have very large blind areas, because they are oblivious to their own faults or virtues. At times, people may feel it necessary to seek outside help or therapy to reduce the size of their blind areas. Do you know something about a friend that he or she does not know?

Pane III, the hidden area, represents your hidden self. It contains information you know about yourself but do not want others to find out for fear they will reject you. Sometimes, it takes a great deal of effort to conceal aspects of yourself from others. At one time or another, each of us probably feels a need to have people important to us know and accept us for who we are.

When we move information from Pane III to Pane I, we engage in the process of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure occurs when we purposely reveal to another something about ourselves that he or she would not otherwise know about us. This does not suggest that the hidden area should not be allowed to exist within each of us. It is up to each of us to decide when it is appropriate for us to share our innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions with others. It is also up to each of us to decide when complete openness or transparency is not in our best interest.

Pane IV of the Johari window is the unknown area in your makeup. It contains information of which neither you nor others are aware. Eventually, education and life experience may help bring some of the mysteries of this pane to the surface. Only then will its contents be available for examination. Have you ever done something that surprised both you and those close to you? Did you and a friend ever exclaim together, “Wow! I didn’t know I felt that way!” or “I didn’t know you could do that!”?