2006 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 35-45
This study was based on the educational practice of Brief Naikan usually applied in the education of social work professionals as a method of acquiring self awareness. To find out whether Brief Naikan would function as a method in support of the acquisition of self awareness underlying knowledge, skill, and ethics for helping professionals, we analyzed students'experiences of Brief Naikan using a modified Grounded Theory approach.
Results indicated six areas of development among the eighteen categories within the core category of "Ability to take on the perspective of others": "Awareness of others' perspectives", "Change in reality recognition", "Self-affirmation", "Expression of honesty and openness", "Positive relationship exchanges with interviewers", and "Distinguishing Naikan and external appearances". Even though Naikan was experienced only for a short period, students showed more self-awareness and understanding of others' perspectives. However, the lasting ability to distinguish between Naikan and external appearances appeared to be facilitated by their adjustment within the environment of the training facilities.
