WILLIAM GLASSER’S CHOICE THEORY By: Amber Pennell Samantha Craig
WILLIAM GLASSER’S
CHOICE THEORY
By:
Amber Pennell
Samantha Craig
A recognized psychiatrist
Author of Choice Theory in the
Classroom and Reality Therapy
Initially a Chemical Engineer
Began the idea of Choice
Theory
Replace external control
WILLIAM GLASSER
Listed as Who’s Who in
America since the 1970’s
Presented with Master
Therapist Designation
In 2005 presented with Life
Achievement Award
GLASSER’S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHAT IS CHOICE THEORY
All we do is behave
All behavior is chosen
Driven by our genes to satisfy
five basic needs
Seven Caring Habits
• Supporting
• Encouraging
• Listening
• Accepting
• Trusting
• Respecting and Negotiating
differences
HOW TO PREVENT
DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
HOW TO PREVENT
DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
Seven deadly habits
• Criticizing
• Blaming
• Complaining
• Nagging
• Threatening
• Pushing and bribing,
rewarding to control
Controlling behavior
Giving information
Long-lasting psychological
problems
Problem relationships
Things that happened in the
past
10 AXIOMS OF CHOICE
THEORY
We can only satisfy our needs
All we do is behave
All behavior is Total Behavior
All Total Behavior is chosen
All Total Behavior is
designated by verbs
10 AXIOMS OF CHOICE
THEORY
TEACHERS’ ROLE
Teachers need to provide a
classroom environment that
motivates students and meets
their 5 basic needs
Student responsibility
Establish rules
Accept no excuses
Call for value judgment
Suggest suitable alternatives
Invoke reasonable consequences
Be persistent and carry out reviews
TEACHERS’ ROLE
Control their own behavior
Know that bad choices
produce bad behavior
Thoughtful corrections of
their actions
Know all the rules and
regulations and follow them
STUDENTS’ ROLE
Promotes individual thinking
Creates a more responsible student
Insures fair treatment
Sets forth immediate consequence
Positive reinforcement
Treats the students as rational
human beings
STRENGTHS OF CHOICE
THEORY
SHORTCOMINGS OF CHOICE
THEORY
Assumes that all students are
on the same maturity level
Leaves no room for the
“human error”
Considered as an easy going
approach
Jimmy continuously disrupts
class with burping noises
Teacher: “Jimmy what are
you doing?”
Jimmy: “Burping in class.”
SAMPLE CASE
Teacher: “Is that helping your
fellow students pay attention?”
Jimmy: “No.”
Teacher: “What should you
be doing?”
Jimmy: “Paying attention.”
SAMPLE CASE
GRAP HIC CITATIONS F OR AM BER
1. http://mychoicemypower.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/quote1.jpg
2. http://www.mentalhelp.net/images/root/wisecounsel/william_glasser.jpg
3. http://www.lmu.edu/assets/student+affairs+division/judicial+affairs/choice+theor
y+cover.jpg
4. http://askdjlyons.com/sitebuilder/images/William_Glasser_Five_Basic_Needs-
353x251.jpg
5. http://blog.ombudsman.com/wp-content/uploads/motivation3-
e1304041290372.jpg
6. http://www.positivediscipline.org/Content/Pictures/Picture.ashx?PicId=87365
REFERENCES FOR AMBER
The William Glasser Institute. (10/08/2008). Choice Theory. Choice
Theory Psychology. Retrieved 9/27/2011, from
wglasser.com/index.php?option=com_contEnt&Task
http://www.teachermatters.com/classroomdisciplinmodles
http://www.teachermatters.com/classroomdisciplinmodleshttp://www.teachermatters.com/classroomdisciplinmodles
GRAP HIC CITATIONS F OR SAM
7. http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a08/4d/sv/behaviorist-theory-classroom-
800x800.jpg
8. http://tombellows.com/db1/00033/tombellows.com/_uimages/SummaryPicture.jpg
9. http://serc.carleton.edu/images/NAGTWorkshops/affective/teacher_at_blackboard.jpg
10. http://www.clipartpal.com/_thumbs/pd/education/classroom.png
11. http://www.camb-ed-us.com/Portals/12/images/pictures/class_math.jpg
12. http://www.kckps.org/images_site/t_l_class.jpg
13. http://www.edudecisions.com/images/EDU_teaching_elementary_teacher_0309_01.jpg
14. http://t1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/12/77/90/400_F_12779066_bRAoRA8pRpvzIQPXTPluE7cmOArC7PvY.jpg
15. http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4039/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4039-66904.jpg
REFERENCES FOR SAM
Glasser, W. (2001). Choice theory in the classroom. New York : Harper, 25-34.
Harris, M.F. & Harris, R.C. (1992). Glasser comes to a rural school.
Educational Leadership. 50 (3), 18-21. Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=9301312126&site=e
host-live&scope=site
The William Glasser Institute. (10/08/2008). Choice Theory. Choice Theory
Psychology. Retrieved 9/29/2011, from http://www.choicetheory.com/ct.htm.
http://web.ebscohost.com/http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=9301312126&site=ehost-live&scope=sitehttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=9301312126&site=ehost-live&scope=sitehttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=9301312126&site=ehost-live&scope=sitehttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=9301312126&site=ehost-live&scope=sitehttp://www.choicetheory.com/ct.htm