The Johari Window
The Johari Window, named after the first names of its inventors, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham59 60, is one of the most useful models describing the process of human interaction. Simply described, it is a four paned window, as illustrated, for convenience; the first person will be used to describe that which is known and unknown.
Top left; Arena, this is the area of “common ground” in any interaction, i.e. information in this quadrant is known to me and you.
Top right, Façade; information in this quadrant is known to me but not to you.
Bottom left; Blind spot; Information here is known to you but unknown to me.
Bottom right, Unknown; information here is completely unknown to both of us.
As an application example; when meeting someone for the first time, assuming no research has been conducted by either party, “small talk” is often used to “sound out common ground”, names may be used, hobbies or past times, where one resides, country or area of origin etc. As the interaction continues the arena window begins to open up, and may for example create a format for a continued relationship. The shared information in the newly opened up arena may be of a nature to preclude further interaction, perhaps details being shared do not align with ones own values, ethos, or interests. In a group setting it can be a powerful “reflector” of that which occurs when one group comes together with another, the same generic pattern will be followed. When sympathy and/or synergy occurs within the individual or group interaction the generic objective is to diminish both Façade and Blind Spot windows, thereby impacting on the window completely unknown to both parties.
