self awareness notes

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH: Lecture 1 Presented by: Mrs. Amukwelele

SELF-AWARENESS

  • Starting Inquiry:
    • "Do you know who you are?"

Learning Outcomes

  • Upon completion of this session, students should be able to:
    1. Define self-awareness
    2. Explain self-regulation
    3. Explain and apply the Johari Window of self-awareness

Self-Discovery Journey

  • Key Questions:
    • "Who am I?"
    • Identify thoughts, perceptions, feelings, needs, behavior, and values that define personal identity.
  • Obstacles to Potential:
    • Self-exploration may reveal what prevents individuals from achieving their full potential.
  • Features of the Journey:
    • Individual experience: highly personal, with unique twists and turns.
    • Challenges encountered: can include high mountains and blind curves, symbolizing emotional or psychological barriers.

Understanding the Self

  • Concept of Self:
    • Self-structure comprises how individuals perceive themselves.
    • Definition of self-concept:
    • A collection of beliefs about oneself, encompassing aspects such as academic performance, gender identity, sexual identity, and racial identity.

Importance of Self-Awareness in Helping Professions

  • Influence of Self on Professional Interactions:
    • Professional practice in social work and psychology necessitates an understanding of oneself to effectively assist clients.
    • Professionals' self-perceptions directly impact interactions with colleagues and clients.
  • Students' Obligation:
    • Awareness of personal attitudes, values, and issues that may affect client interactions.

Definition of Self-Awareness

  • Comprehensive Definition:
    • Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
    • It involves:
    • Recognition of personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses.
    • Ability to reflect on oneself and identify behavioral and emotional patterns.
  • Citations:
    • Wong (2003): Defines self-awareness specifically.

Types of Self-Awareness

  1. Internal Self-Awareness:
    • Understanding one’s internal states, preferences, emotions, and thoughts.
  2. External Self-Awareness:
    • Awareness of how others perceive an individual in various contexts, which aids in social navigation.

Strategies for Self-Regulation

  • Managing Internal States:
    1. Self-Control:
    • Keeping disruptive emotions in check.
    1. Trustworthiness:
    • Upholding honesty and integrity standards.
    1. Accountability:
    • Taking responsibility for personal performance.
    1. Adaptability:
    • Flexibility in the face of change.
    1. Innovation:
    • Comfort with new ideas and information.

Johari Window

  • Definition:
    • A psychological tool developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955.
  • Purpose:
    • The Johari Window is useful for understanding and enhancing:
    • Self-awareness
    • Personal development
    • Communication improvement
    • Interpersonal relationships
    • Group dynamics
    • Team development
    • Intergroup relationships

Structure of the Johari Window

  • Quadrants of the Johari Window:
    • Open Self
    • Known to both self and others.
    • Information shared enhances trust.
    • Blind Self
    • Unknown to self but known to others.
    • Feedback can reveal traits not perceived by the individual.
    • Hidden Self
    • Known to self but not shared with others.
    • Unknown Self
    • Unknown to both self and others.

Dynamics of the Johari Window

  • Changing Balance:
    • Sharing hidden aspects can expand the open area.
  • Examples of Increasing the Open Area:
    • Asking for feedback helps reduce the blind area, revealing insights about personal character.

Discovering Unknown Factors

  • Examples of unknown factors may include:
    • Underestimated abilities due to lack of opportunity or confidence.
    • Natural abilities not recognized by the individual.
    • Repressed feelings and conditioned behaviors from childhood.
  • Application in Educational Settings:
    • Interaction with a tutor may reveal how past experiences shape current learning, thereby reducing the unknown area.

Limitations of the Johari Window

  • Shortcomings:
    • Some information is better kept private; risks of sharing sensitive information.
    • Different cultures may have varied openness to feedback.
    • Personal feedback can be perceived negatively; hence, a careful and gradual approach is needed.

Benefits of the Johari Window

  • Advantages:
    • Optimizes value for individuals, empowering them to integrate principles into their thoughts and behaviors.
    • The Self Awareness Diagnostic complements the Johari Window, enhancing exploration of personal qualities.

Implementing the Johari Window

Step One:

  • Enhance the open area by noting personal attributes.
  • Complete the Self Awareness Diagnostic by answering:
    • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
    • What are you comfortable sharing?
    • Aim for honesty about self-knowledge.

Step Two:

  • Invite others for feedback and be open to considering it.
    • Acknowledge their effort, independent of whether one acts on the feedback.
    • Feedback can be obtained in group settings or one-on-one interactions.

Feedback Dynamics

  • Effective Feedback:
    • Remember the skill in delivering feedback varies among individuals.
    • When receiving feedback, maintain respect, listen actively, and reflect on received information.
    • Exploring feedback further may yield new self-discoveries.

Conclusion and Exercise

  • Self-Reflection Activity:
    • Try to create your own Johari Window independently or with a trusted person.
    • This exercise is for personal development and does not need to be submitted or discussed in class.

END of Lesson

  • Coda:
    • Contains a short narrative titled "Alfred & Shadow" concerning emotions in education psychology health animation.