CHAPTER FOUR: SELF-AWARENESS

4.0 INTRODUCTION

4.1 SELF AWARENESS

LECTURE 4: SELF-AWARENESS
4.0 INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our fourth lecture. In this lecture we explore an interesting area of self-awareness.
Self-awareness is a pre-liquisite for a psychologically healthy individual. It is simply asking
yourself the following questions;
Do I know myself? How do I know myself? What do other people know me that I don’t mind
about it? Are there things that I know about myself that others do not know? Are there things that
other people know about me and I do not know? And do I have other things that I do not know
about myself and neither other people know about?
Self- awareness is important for self-growth. Every employee needs be comfortable with whom
they are in order to effectiveness in their work place. It is self-awareness thatmakes employees
more is productive. This is because they are well aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They
are usually individuals who are not afraid of criticisms.
Specific objectives
Explain the following terms
 Self-concept
 Self-image
 Self esteem
 Ideal self
 Body image

Draw Johariwindow and clearly indicate the four windows.

Briefly explain how you can use Johari window to increase self-awareness among
employees
Lecture outline
Meaning of self-awareness
Components of self-awareness
Johariwindow

4.1 SELF AWARENESS

Self –awareness consists of the following;
1. Self-Concept
Self-concept can be defined as a person’s consciousness of his/her total self. Included in the self-
concept are all our physical, social and psychological perception about ourselves.
Therefore self-concept is the way in which individuals think about himself. Self-concept
includes;
Perception about ourselves.
It originates from interaction with others.
Individual’s evaluation of self.
Components of self-concept
 Self-image
 Self esteem
 Ideal self
 Body image
2. Self-image
This is the way an individual perceives self. Description one uses to describe self.
Categorization by others. Statements that represents an individual. It results from self-perception
and feedbacks.
2. Self Esteem
The value we attach to ourselves. This is how individual feels about oneself. Perception of own
success or failure Attitudes towards oneself.
It comprises of the following;
3. Ideal Self
This is what a person aspires to be.
What somebody would like to be
4) Body Image
This comprises of how individual views his/her body.
 JOHARI WINDOW
Known Not Known
to Others to Others
Known
Open/publi Hidden/Secret/privat
c e
to
Area Area
Self
Not
Known Blind Unknown/mystery/
Area Area
to Self

The Basic Johari Window

Above is a diagram of the standard Johari Window, showing the four different selves and how
the awareness or otherwise of these aspects of our self by others and ourselves lead to these four
categories. 
The Public Self
The Public Self is the part of ourselves that we are happy to share with others and discuss openly.
Thus you and I both see and can talk openly about this 'me' and gain a common view of who I
am in this element. This is the open self.

The Private Self

There are often parts of ourselves that are too private to share with others. We hide these away
and refuse to discuss them with other people or even expose them in any way.
Private elements may be embarrassing or shameful in some way. They may also be fearful or
seek to avoid being discussed for reasons of vulnerability.
Between the public and private selves, there are partly private, partly public aspects of ourselves
that we are prepared to share only with trusted others.

The Blind Self

• This is the parts of us that we cannot see but others can, for example our body language
and other aspects of our behaviuor that we are unaware of.
• The blind spots of our window can be opened and enlarged by feedback from other
people.
We often assume that the public and private selves are all that we are. However, the views that
others have of us may be different from those we have of ourselves. For example persons who
consider themselves as intelligent may be viewed as an arrogant and socially ignorant by others.
Our blind self may remain blind because others will not discuss this part of us for a range of
reasons. Perhaps they realize that we would be unable to accept what they see. Perhaps they have
tried to discuss this and we have been so blind that we assume their views are invalid. They may
also withhold this information as it gives them power over us. Feedback is one way by which
other people can help you open your blind area by letting you know what they see in you, that
which you do not see yourself

The Undiscovered Self/Mystery Self

Finally, the fourth self is one which neither we nor other people see. This undiscovered self may
include both good and bad things that may remain forever undiscovered or may one day be
discovered, entering the private, blind or maybe even public selves.
This part of us that we do not know and others do not know may include our motivation,
unconscious needs, anxieties and undiscovered potentials.
Between the Blind and Undiscovered Selves, are partly hidden selves that only some people see.
Psychologists and those who are more empathic, for example, may well see more than the
average person
.
When we become aware of our limitations we are free to make decisions like referring clients
to someone else without feeling demeaned.
Counselling can assist us explore ourselves more and also process issues that block us in
counselling sessions. We become aware of our needs and therefore decide what is best done to
satisfy these needs e.g. need for company, acceptance, love, power control e.t.c. This ensures that
these needs do not interfere with our helping relationship.
Self-awareness helps us not to over identify with the client and getting lost in his world i.e. it
helps us minimize counter transference. This enables one to feel with the client e.g. in an event
of sorrow and be able to maintain it at mental level without getting overwhelmed by the feelings
of the client. Self-awareness enables one to enter and leave clients world easily as one is clear of
what clients feeling from counsellor’s feelings.

Question. Differentiate between the following terms?

 Self-concept
 Self-image
 Self esteem
 Explore Johari window as model of self awareness