WHAT IS CHOICE THEORY?

CHOICE THEORY® is the basis for all programs taught by The Institute. The 1998 book, Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom, Dr. William Glasser is the primary text that is used in all our training.

It is offered as a solution to a problem we collectively face: External Control Psychology

External Control is the present psychology of almost all the people in the world. Unfortunately, this forcing, punishing psychology is destructive to relationships. When used in a relationship, it destroys the ability to find satisfaction which results in people becoming disconnected.

Disconnectedness is the source of almost all human problems, such as what is called mental illness, drug addiction, violence, crime, school failure, spousal and child abuse, to mention a few.

Choice Theory® teaches us why and how we behave.

It states that

–> all we do is behave,

–> almost all behavior is chosen, and

–> we are driven by our genes to satisfy five basic needs – survival, love and belonging, power, freedom and fun.

In practice, the most important need is love and belonging as closeness and connectedness with the people we care about is a requisite for satisfying all the needs.

Our thinking, acting, feelings, and physiology occur together; thus, we refer to this as Total Behaviour.

All behaviours are . . .

Internally-motivated
Purposeful
Flexible
Creative

Our behaviours are our constant attempt to gain more effective control of our lives; so, we behave in the world to get the picture that we want at the time to meet one or more of our basic needs.

The Quality World, where we store all need-satisfying pictures, by far, is the most important part of our lives. Our pictures are not fixed. We can, and often do, reduce our expectations in a realistic attempt to make it easier to satisfy our needs. An important part of Reality Therapy®, called self-evaluation, helps us to do this.