Inception

COM 114 – Sec.
17 March 2014

Self-Disclosure Inception

Abstract
This paper explores self-disclosure using the Johari Window, and examines the four quadrants that it consists of. The Johari Window is examined on a complicated movie, Inception , which explores dreaming and planting ideas in another persons memory. The Johari Window is used to examine the relationship between Cobb and his crewmembers. We examine their relationships and perceptions. This helps brings us to the understand the window of self-disclosure containing quadrants that are: open, blind, hidden, and unknown. The different windows help up illustrate the man Cobb is. In addition the information we learn using the Johari Window helps up to understand the relationships between the characters. Analyzing self-disclosure identifies certain characteristics and give a deeper understanding of the movie and express how relationships and aspects of yourself can develop and move depending on your relationships and involvement and disclosure of yourself.

Self-Disclosure Inception Why would an intelligent person want to plant an idea, their idea, into another person’s head? Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” showcases a brilliant, skilled extractor, Cobb. He is along side his partner, Arthur. Together they make a very powerful team. Cobb and Arthur are on a mission to extract sensitive information from Saito’s dream. This was an “audition” for an upcoming job. The extraction fails; the men wake up on a train and move quickly before Saito awakens. Saito searches for the boys, as they attempt to escape from Japan. Saito finally retrieves the two men and offers them a deal; he needs to break up one of his top competitor’s empire in exchange for Cobb’s safe return home to his two children. Saito asks if inception is possible, but Cobb insists it is absolutely not possible. Arthur reinforces that pure inspiration is impossible to reproduce. Cobb reluctantly accepts the offer, and must build a team. Cobb travels to France to meet his father-in-law in search of an architect, to build the dream. He finds a young girl by the name of Ariadne. Next, Cobb travels to Mombasa in search of a forger, to impose other people during the inception. He finds Eames, who knows a chemist in town who can keep the crew sedated for a lengthy amount of time. Cobb and Eames go to meet the chemist, Yusuf, who is quickly added to the team after demonstrating his drugs to Cobb. The team, Cobb, Arthur, Ariadne, Eames, and Yusuf set out to complete their mission. They board a lengthy flight, with Saito and the largest competitor aboard as well. Robert Fischer is the target of inception on this ten-hour flight. Cobb slips sedative in his drink, and they begin the inception. The team quickly enters each other’s dreams, starting in Yusuf’s dream. An ambush occurred after the team kidnapped Fischer. Saito was injured in the crossfire. Eames offers to wake him up from the dream, by killing him. This will drop him into limbo, because he is so heavily sedated. They next go into Arthur’s dream. Finally they enter the third layer, into Fischer’s dream. Cobb’s projection of his deceased wife Mal, kills Fischer, sending him into limbo. Mal hopes Cobb will follow her into limbo and stay there forever. In hopes to save Fischer and the job, Cobb and Ariadne enter Cobb’s dream. They know Fischer and Saito will be here, because Mal wants Cobb to follow her. Cobb must pull both men out of limbo, and return from each dream when the kick is fired. All the members of the inception make it out of the dreams safely and the job was complete. Saito comes thru in the end with his deal that Cobb will return home with his children. The interpersonal relationship between Cobb and the team is complex. Cobb brings many projections to the dreams and has many underlying issues. The team is aware of some things going on with Cobb. Although Cobb keeps many things to himself, or does not try to revel them, his team members tend to pick up on more information about himself and his behaviors than Cobb is aware of. Cobb and his team’s relationship can be examined using concept known as self-disclosure. We are able to perceive the outside world and all that fills it with our own personal idea and the use of self disclosure to learn about ourselves and strengthen relationships with others. Self-disclosure, also known as the Johari window, is a communication model developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham (book). The Johari Window is a model used to contrast the views of ourselves and how others view us. “The Johari Window is a matrix with four quadrant that visualize the self based information known or not known to self and other” (source). The open quadrant represents aspects of our lives we knowingly share and others can readily determine about us. The blind quadrant represents the part of our self we reveal unconsciously or are not aware of, but known to others. The hidden quadrant represents the part of use we are aware of and have not or do not want to share with others. The unknown quadrant is both unknown to others and ourselves, such as a hidden talent (book). There are two extremes to disclosure, falling under hidden. Over disclosure, which keeps little hidden about your self to others. Under disclosure, revealing very little about your self to others (source). Self-disclosure can be beneficial. The process can help express your feelings and increase your understanding. Self-disclosure should be cautioned. Trust develops once we open up, and you must search for someone believed to be a good listener (book.) The process is meaningful. “The Johari Window gives us a framework for maneuvering—people aren’t backed into a right-wrong corner but move within changing perceptual frames.” (source). The Johari Window is demonstrated throughout the film. The first section of the Johari Window is open. The open quadrant represents aspects of our life that are known by both others and our self; can readily determine who we are. Cobb demonstrates this, by being a skilled extractor. He is aware of how his skills in the dream world impact his life and others. His crew, and other individuals in his life view him as an extractor as well. It is a job to him, and he is known by what he does. It defines who Cobb is as a man. Another section of the Johari Window is blind. The blind quadrant represents the part of our self either unconsciously reveled to others or others acquire knowledge unknowingly to self. Cobb carries feelings of Mal with him constantly, he is well aware of that. Although two of his partners learn of his strong emotional attachment to her during the many inceptions they take. They learn Mal is his reality there. Eventually the two members call him out on this, which changes the situation from blind to open. The Johari Window includes on section hidden. The hidden quadrant is a representation of what we are aware exists, but do not want to share or have no shared with others. Throughout the film we learn about a totem, which is what each individual brings in the dream with him or her. You cannot touch another’s totem, only you should know the size, weight and feeling of your totem. Cobb carries his deceased wives totem with him. This cannot be his actual totem, because no one can know how it works. Cobb does not tell anyone what his real totem is or the story behind this. Although it is suspected his wedding ring may be his, because he is only wearing it when he enters the dream world. The fourth Johari Window is the unknown quadrant. The unknown quadrant is a part of us that is not known to others and ourselves. There were no definite examples in this film, because we are not aware of what talents or skills Cobb may have. The film does not exhibit and untapped potential. Inception is as confusing as interesting. Dreams are the world of the mind where the brain can use its full potential; creating and perceiving it as it unfolds in from of the subject. The concept of self-disclosure is the same, perceived different and constantly changing as one reveals more or less about ones self. The concepts strongly improve communication, as the dream brings closer bonds the deeper you go. All in all we perceive is through what we know and how we feel about the things around us, and your biggest enemy can sometimes be yourself.

Refrences
Beck, C. E. (1994, November). Perspectives on the self in communication: the cognition continuum and the Johari Window. Technical Communication, 41(4), 753+.

Dunn, D. M., Goodnight, L.J. (year) Communication Embracing Difference (4th ed.).
Hammond, IN: Purdue University Calumet.