What is psychological blind spot

In psychology, a blind spot refers to an area of one’s consciousness or awareness where a person is unable to see or recognise certain aspects of themselves, their behaviour, or their perceptions. These are usually unconscious patterns or biases that can affect our decisions, relationships, and self-image, often without us realising it.

Key features of blind spots

1. Unconscious biases or behaviours

Blind spots often manifest as unconscious biases, where we might have prejudices or preferences that we’re unaware of. For example, we may be biased against certain groups of people, but we don’t consciously realize it because it’s not something we actively choose to believe.

2. Unseen weaknesses or strengths

Blind spots are weaknesses or habits that are harmful but not recognised by the person. For example, a tendency to interrupt others during conversations. On the flip side, a person may also fail to see their strengths or positive traits. For example, being unaware of their leadership abilities.

3. Resistance to feedback

Because blind spots are often linked to unconscious defences, a person may resist feedback about them. For example, if someone points out a behaviour we exhibit that we’ve never noticed in ourselves, we might become defensive or dismissive, which reinforces the blind spot.

4. Discrepancy between self-perception and reality

Blind spots create a gap between how we see ourselves and how others perceive us. The Johari Window, a popular model in psychology, divides our awareness into four regions:

1. Open area: known to both self and others
2. Blind spot: known to others, but not to self
3. Hidden area: known to self, but not to others
4. Unknown area: unknown to both self and others

The blind spot refers to the things that others can see in us (e.g., certain mannerisms, traits, or habits) that we are unaware of.

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Types of blind spots

1. Cognitive blind spots

These are related to biases in how we think or process information. For example, confirmation bias — seeking information that confirms our beliefs and ignoring information that contradicts them — can create blind spots where we fail to see evidence that challenges our views.

2. Emotional blind spots

Emotional blind spots occur when we’re unaware of the emotions that are driving our behaviours. For instance, if we react angrily in situations where it’s not appropriate but don’t understand why, it could be due to underlying emotional triggers or unresolved feelings.

3. Behavioural blind spots

These are patterns in our behaviour that we don’t recognize or acknowledge. A common example is ‘projection’, where we attribute our own feelings or behaviours to others. For example, thinking someone else is angry with us when we are the one feeling angry).

When one thing becomes true for you, the paradox becomes a blind spot!

– Harrish Sairaman –

Causes of blind spots

Lack of self-awareness

When we don’t take the time to reflect on our thoughts, actions, and feelings, we’re more likely to have blind spots. This can stem from busy lives, lack of introspection, or avoidance of uncomfortable truths.

Social and cultural influences

Our culture, upbringing, and societal norms can shape our unconscious biases. Blind spots may be influenced by stereotypes, social conditioning, or groupthink, which we may not be aware of.

Defensive Mechanisms

Sometimes, blind spots exist because of psychological defence mechanisms, like denial or rationalisation, which protect us from painful truths. For example, a person who has been hurt in relationships may have a blind spot about their role in the dysfunction.

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How Blind Spots Impact Us

Relationships

Blind spots can create misunderstandings or conflict in relationships because others might see things we don’t recognise about ourselves. For example, we may unknowingly give off signals of disinterest or impatience that affect our interactions with others.

Decision-making

Our blind spots can influence how we make decisions, especially when our biases or unacknowledged emotions are at play. For example, a person might repeatedly make poor financial decisions because they have a blind spot about their tendency to impulse-buy.

Personal growth

Blind spots can limit our personal development because they prevent us from seeing areas where we need to improve or grow. Without identifying and addressing blind spots, we may continue to repeat the same mistakes or miss opportunities for growth.

Overcoming blind spots

As mentioned earlier, uncovering blind spots requires intentional self-awareness and openness to feedback. Some strategies for overcoming blind spots include:

• Engaging in reflective practices (e.g., journaling, meditation).
• Asking for and accepting honest feedback from others.
• Working with a therapist or coach to explore deeper emotional or psychological patterns.
• Engaging in mindfulness to become more aware of unconscious reactions and biases.
• Being willing to challenge assumptions and seek new perspectives.

Uncovering our own blind spots is a process of increasing self-awareness, especially regarding areas where you may be unaware of how you think, feel, or behave. It requires a mix of introspection, feedback from others, and openness to difficult truths. It’s a journey demanding patience, curiosity, and courage. It’s important to approach the process with a mindset of self-compassion, as some blind spots may challenge how we see ourselves or our past behaviours. Over time, with consistent effort, we’ll become more self-aware and better able to grow beyond these hidden limitations.