William Glasser

Choice Theory, Reality Therapy, Lead Management

Choice Theory posits that behavior is central to our existence and is driven by four fundamental psychological needs:
Love
Power
Freedom
Fun

Choice Theory posits the existence of a "Quality World" in which, starting at birth and continuing throughout our lives, we place those things that we highly value: primarily the people who are important to us, things we prize, and systems of belief, i.e. religion, cultural values and icons, etc. Glasser also posits a "Comparing Place" in which we compare the world we experience with our Quality World. We behave to achieve as best we can a real world experience consonant with our Quality World.

Choice Theory posits that we are able to learn how to choose alternate behaviors that will result in greater satisfaction. Reality Therapy is the counselling process focussed on helping clients to learn to make those choices.

The Ten Axioms of Choice Theory

-The only person whose behavior we can control is our own.
-All we can give another person is information.
-All long-lasting psychological problems are relationship problems.
-The problem relationship is always part of our present life.
-What -happened in the past has everything to do with what we are today, but we can only satisfy our basic needs right now and plan to continue satisfying them in the future.
-We can only satisfy our needs by satisfying the pictures in our Quality World.
-All we do is behave.
-All behavior is Total Behavior and is made up of four components: acting, thinking, feeling and physiology.
-All Total Behavior is chosen, but we only have direct control over the acting and thinking components. We can only control our feeling and physiology indirectly through how we choose to act and think.
-All Total Behavior is designated by verbs and named by the part that is the most recognizable.

from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Glasser

MY REFLECTION:

I really like how Glasser says that the only behaviour we can control is our own, and that we make choices that determine our behaviour. This is probably because I have found this to be true in my life. I learnt many things about myself as an adolescent, and will continue to as I grow. One of the things that I learnt was that I have a natural inclination to dominate other people. For example, when I was in high school and found myself in a debate with my friends and classmates I was so sure that I was right, and that if I argues my case strongly enough then everyone else would come round to my way of thinking.... of course, I soon learnt that in trying to change my friends thinking and behaviours like this, I made my friends come to avoid getting into any sort of discussion with me, because they wanted to be able to express their opinion and be recognised for its worth. I also like the idea that we make choices that determine our behaviour, because it means that once we identify a behaviour that is not beneficial to us, we can find ways to change that behaviour, if we decide to do so. No situation is hopeless, and no student deserves to be abandoned. However, in reality therapy, the teacher is required to be extremely skillful. Reality therapy is almost like holding a mirror up to the student, and helping them to recognise their own behaviours, and develop strategies to change them. The teacher does not make judgement, and cannot overtly influence the students thinking, although the teacher should subtly encourage the student in the right direction, through asking questions and body language even. A teacher who successfully uses reality therapy will develop a fantastic relationship with the student. A student cannot focus their anger or blame on a teacher who skillfully uses reality therapy, rather they develop a relatuionship of trust.