This study examined "expression" of self-understanding in the context of self-understanding education, and empirically studied whether reference to others' frames could promote new expressions of self-under- standing. One hundred and thirty-eight college women participated in the study, and were asked what was happiness for them. Their answers were returned to them later, and they were asked the same question again. However, some of them received a list of other participants' answers, and were allowed or forced to refer to other people's frames, seen in the answers. Two indices of changes in expression, qualitative change in the view on happiness and its grounds, were examined. It was found that the reference promoted new expressions of self-understanding; however, the promoted change was not of the view, but of its grounds. Also, in most cases, different rather than same frames were chosen as referents, and expressions were mainly in the form of avoidance.
Key words: self-understanding, social comparison, reference to others' frames, view on happiness, approach-avoidance