Half of Individuals Who Feel Self-Aware Actually Lack True Understanding of Themselves

The Struggle for Self-Understanding: A Survey Analysis

In a recent survey conducted by Jikorikai, a psychological technology venture based in Shibuya, Tokyo, it was revealed that a staggering proportion of working individuals in their 20s to 50s lack a deep understanding of themselves. The survey, which involved 500 participants, unveiled troubling insights into self-awareness and personal decision-making.

The Findings

Among the respondents, only 17.4% confidently claimed to understand themselves, while a significant 82.6% admitted to knowing themselves only vaguely or not at all. Alarmingly, nearly half of those who considered themselves self-aware were unable to articulate their values and strengths or failed to make decisions based on their personal framework.

Key Insights

- Self-Awareness Isn't Age-Dependent: Surprisingly, the depth of self-understanding didn't show any increase with age or career advancement. For instance, the percentage of individuals who believed they had a good grasp of themselves was fairly consistent across age groups—20.8% in their 20s, 15.2% in their 30s, 16.8% in their 40s, and 16.8% in their 50s.
- Self-Perception vs. Reality: Of those who claimed self-awareness, only 52.9% could clearly explain their values and 47.1% could detail their strengths to others. This indicates a significant gap between self-perception and deeper self-awareness.

Decision-Making Frameworks

Interestingly, only 14% of respondents reported making career decisions based on their personal values and strengths. The majority, at 86%, were influenced by external factors such as societal expectations or other people's desires, leading to decisions that did not reflect their true selves.

External Influences on Decision-Making

Even among the self-designated ‘self-aware’ individuals, when probed further, only 43.7% admitted to making decisions aligned with their values, highlighting a disconnect between their self-perception and real-life choices. This apparent contradiction suggests that many individuals, despite feeling self-aware, often succumb to external pressures when making important decisions.

The Importance of Self-Alignment

The survey’s findings underscored that individuals who base their choices on personal values experience higher levels of satisfaction and happiness. Those who reported making decisions in alignment with their personal framework expressed significantly greater feelings of fulfillment compared to those whose choices were influenced by outside expectations.

CEO Comments and Future Directions

Kazunari Abe, the CEO of Jikorikai, emphasized the importance of resolving discrepancies between one’s ideal self and actual behaviors. Drawing from Higgins’ theory of self-discrepancy, he pointed out that the gaps between “ideal self” and “real self” often lead to feelings of inadequacy or anxiety. The survey results indicate a prevalent issue of self-inconsistency, where many individuals can articulate a sense of self-awareness but fail to translate that into concrete actions or decisions in their lives.

New Initiatives

To combat these prevalent issues, Jikorikai will launch its new self-understanding program, titled “WORK LIFE DESIGN (Version B),” in August 2025. This program goes beyond simply helping individuals identify their values; it encourages actionable changes that lead to a deeper understanding of self. With a robust database built from insights gained from over 6,500 participants, the initiative aims to support individuals in making meaningful life choices based on thorough self-awareness.

About Jikorikai

Founded with a vision of creating a society where people live by their passions, Jikorikai is dedicated to solving societal challenges through scientific approaches to self-understanding. The company aims to integrate self-understanding into education and personal growth, creating a world where it is as fundamental as traditional academics. Their courses have already empowered thousands to explore their true selves and realize their potential through customized support and guidance.

For more information about Jikorikai and its initiatives, visit their official website: Jikorikai.