Key Concepts of Choice Theory
“The only thing we can give or receive from other people is information; the only person whose behaviour we can influence is our own” (Glasser, 1998).
Every action is a part of a larger whole. Glasser has given a term called “Total Behaviour” which is made up of four separate yet interrelated components that always happen at the same time. These are acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology. Glasser suggests we have considerable control or choice over acting and thinking; yet, little ability to directly choose the feeling and physiology components as they are more deeply subconscious and unconscious. These four components remain closely intertwined, the choices we make in our thinking and acting greatly affect our feeling and physiology.
According to Glasser, all our actions are motivated by a set of five fundamental needs that evolved over time and now these are embedded in our genetic structure. Our behavior is an expression of our desire to meet those needs. These are need for,
• Survival – physical security
• Love - the need for belongingness and connectedness
• Power – the need to feel competent and in control
• Fun – need for play, amusing oneself or novelty
• Freedom – freedom to make choices, being independent
For example, one person may have a strong need for love and belonging, but their partner may have a lower need for love and belonging but a high need for freedom. It is important to understand that everyone has a different profile or mixture of these needs. For example, going on a vacation with a loved one could fulfill your needs for love and belonging and freedom, fun, and belonging; or playing a sport can make you feel good at something, be enjoyable and you may feel connected to your team. Pleasant worldviews or images in our minds can prompt us to act in a certain way if we believe that our reality does not meet these standards. If we picture love as someone providing us tea in bed every morning, it is possible that someone else does not see it that way at all. We use these mental images to compare our current situation to our ideal situation.
In Glasser’s view, our actions are made up of four components: our thoughts, actions, bodily sensations, and emotions. As we mentioned earlier, he refers to these four factors as our “total behaviour.” These are like four wheels in total behaviour: thinking, doing, feeling and being. The way we feel can be changed by changing our thoughts and actions, he argues, because this affects our overall behaviour. Even if it is just at a social event, you may start picturing what it would be like if your partner were to break up with you because he’s attracted to someone else. You may experience increased sweating, a rise in blood pressure, and feelings of panic and anxiety as a result of this. If this is your behaviour, you may be observing their every move with an unblinking gaze. Your body will feel calm and relaxed with a sense of enjoyment if you can change your thoughts to believe that you can rely on your partner. You could take this as an opportunity to shift your attention to the people around you and engage in a conversation with them. Ask yourself whether or not your overall behaviour is leading you toward your true desires or away from them. Will your actions get you closer or further away from having a good relationship with your partner if you want one? What about your actions if there is no particular judgement or hierarchy of needs?
Significance of reality therapy
Dr. William Glasser pioneered reality therapy in 1965, based on the concepts of choice theory. In this therapy, the basic premise is that (a) all human problems arise when one or more of five fundamental psychological needs are not met and (b) an individual can only control their own behaviour. Parents and many professionals in the fields of education, mental health, and social services have accepted the fundamentals of this therapy. Glasser was of the opinion that achieving one’s own objectives and wishes is easier when one focuses on changing one’s own behaviour rather than trying to influence the behaviour of another.
Reality therapy is based on the idea that everyone is always attempting to meet their basic requirements. Reality therapists believe that when a person is depressed, it is because one of the five needs has not been met. In reality therapy, it is argued that changing one’s behaviour can have a positive impact on one’s feelings and on one’s ability to achieve one’s goals, so it is possible that those taking part in the therapy will learn how to be more aware of any negative thoughts and actions that may be preventing them from meeting their needs. It employs questions like, “What are you doing and what can you do?”
Therapy may begin by helping an individual shift their emphasis away from their former habits and toward their current ones, so that they can begin to heal. The requirements that can be met in the present are the ones that are most important. As Glasser felt that signs of mental distress are caused by a person’s isolation from others, reality therapists prefer not to focus on a person’s symptoms. In reality therapy, patients are asked to analyse the impact of their behaviour on a specific issue, which helps them focus on things they can alter instead of things beyond their control. In actual treatment, the focus is on what the patient can influence. Reality therapists think that by focusing on one’s own needs and desires and coming up with a strategy to meet those needs without judging or blaming others, one can improve one’s relationships.
In the Reality therapy, therapists use WDEP (wants, doing, evaluation, and planning) system which is demonstrated in above box: The reality therapist works with clients by focusing on all four step by step process in which therapist firstly explore client’s wants or desires and what clients are doing to accomplish those desires. In the second step therapist assesses whether what clients are doing is beneficial or detrimental to their goals, and in the last two steps therapists eventually assist the client and make plan in developing strategies to change their behaviour.
• Role of the Therapist in Reality Therapy
Because reality therapy aims to help people who have trouble relating to others, establishing a rapport with the therapist is essential. In the opinion of reality therapists, this connection is the most critical factor in aiding healing. Once the therapeutic relationship is established, it can be used as a model for establishing satisfying relationships outside of it. Relationship-building techniques learned during “safe” therapy sessions can be used to everyday life, making it easier for persons in therapy to expand on those techniques in the real world. Reality therapists believe that a person’s ability to apply the skills they’ve learned in therapy to real-world situations increases their chances of having more satisfying relationships and a more rewarding life.
• Application of Reality Therapy
Reality therapy is widely accepted as an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, but it can be particularly beneficial for children and young adults who are experiencing challenges in school and their communities. Teachers and school counsellors who receive proper training in reality therapy report gains in classroom performance, increased cooperation, and fewer disruptive behaviours. Teen pregnancy, for example, has been found to benefit from the use of reality therapy in the treatment of behavioural difficulties. Reality therapy is based on the premise that in order to alter one’s behaviour, one must accept responsibility for one’s actions. Sport coaching and juvenile offender programmes that incorporate reality therapy have both seen success in changing the conduct of their participants.
• Concerns and Limitations of Reality Therapy
Results of the previous researches related to reality therapy demonstrate that, using reality therapy in schools to address behavioural issues has had excellent outcomes. Nevertheless, there has been very little longterm research into the efficacy of this therapy in school populations so far. These researches are restricted by the lack of experimental control in areas like sample size and training of teachers, and questions of voluntary involvement. While reality therapy has been shown to lessen concerns with target group misbehaviour in schools, outcomes are limited in terms of its power to improve the personal experiences of children and young people, their self-esteem and self-conception. Research shows that reality therapy can help with symptoms of behavioural difficulties, but not the fundamental causes and reasons for those issues (Reality Therapy, 2017).
Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE
For PDF copy of Solved Assignment
WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)
0 Comments
Please do not enter any Spam link in the comment box