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Contents
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1 Theory Overview o 1.1 Who is Glasser? o 1.2 Choice Theory At A Glance 2 Implementation o 2.1 Elementary o 2.2 Secondary (Middle and High School) 3 Critique o 3.1 Support o 3.2 Disagreements o 3.3 Personal Reflections 4 References 5 Questions
The Control Theory, later named Choice Theory, states that a persons behavior is inspired by what that person wants or needs at that particular time, not an outside stimulus. Glasser states that all living creatures control their behavior to fulfill their need for satisfaction in one or more of these five areas: survival, to belong and be loved by others, to have power and importance, freedom and independence, and to have fun.[2] Every individual has the power to change their lives for the better based on the choices they make. A person can make the proper choices and take greater responsibility for their actions by asking themselves the following questions:
What do you want? What are you doing to achieve what you want? Is it working? What are your plans or options?[3]
Relationships and Our Habits Seven Caring Habits Supporting Encouraging Listening Accepting Trusting Respecting Negotiating differences Seven Deadly habits Criticizing Blaming Complaining Nagging Threatening Punishing Bribing or rewarding to control
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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. 6. We can only satisfy our needs by satisfying the pictures in our Quality World. 7. All we do is behave. 8. All behavior is Total Behavior and is made up of four components: acting, thinking, feeling and physiology. 9. 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. 10. All Total Behavior is designated by verbs and named by the part that is the most recognizable.[4]
[edit] Implementation
After looking through the Glasser's theory and models, what is the most effective way to learn about choice theory? What practical ways can we implement the Glassers Choice (Control) Theory (behavior results from one of five basic needs needing to be met) into a classroom? Here are a few examples for both Elementary and Secondary Levels.
[edit] Elementary
When deciding to use Choice Theory in an elementary classroom, teachers must share with their students that they have a say in what they learn and how they learn it. In order to have their say students must learn to make choices. In order to convey the message, a suggested way to teach the theory concept is by teaching through the use of skits or role-playing. William and Carleen Glasser have created a series of skits to assist teachers (although written for use basically in secondary schools) in teaching the theory. The skits help in teaching students about such concepts as building trust, making connections and responsible choices, making decisions, talking together, acquiring knowledge to using knowledge, authentic assessment, competency, getting along, caring and respecting, moving from external control to internal control, teaching Choice Theory to others and every student can succeed. Can these skits be adapted to teach younger, elementary aged students? It has been accomplished. As stated by Angela Ward, her suggestion for teaching the concepts in her second grade class would be to use the series by, restructuring the skits by changing the amount of characters from five to four to account for her teams in her classroom. In addition, she suggests, by keeping the names consistent throughout, the students were able to each do a different skit and the audience could follow the story line.[5] In addition, Glasser shares what he believes are the Seven Caring Habits which includes: Supporting, Encouraging, Listening, Accepting, Trusting, Respecting, and Negotiating Differences and he shares his belief of the Seven Deadly Habits Criticizing, Blaming, Complaining, Nagging, Threatening, Punishing, and Bribing or rewarding to control. To teach this in elementary schools a teacher could possibly borrow the ideas from Gail Edelman Small a teacher from Conejo Elementary School near Thousand Oaks, California. Students made
creative representations to show the importance of choices. Three examples were: creating a choice flower the petals on the flower were used to describe the things and people the student loved and what things or events made her feel powerful and free. A second example: a student created a book about her thoughts and feelings surrounding her choices. And a third example was a student who created posters of magazine cutouts about Glassers idea of how seven caring and deadly habits make or break relationships.[6]
The following Glasser skit can be modified for elementary level students. Skits to Help High School Student Learn Choice Theory
[edit] Critique
[edit] Support
There are over twenty Quality Schools that have implemented William Glassers Choice Theory in their schools (William Glasser Institute, 2006). Many of the supporters of Glassers theory believe his ideas are revolutionary and at the same time contain a basic common sense philosophy. In Corning New York they have implemented "the Choice Community Project." Many different segments of this community are involved in this project: the senior center has a support group for women; the county jail has workshops for the inmates; one pastor has couples in pre-marriage counseling read about Glasser's philosophy; and workshops have been offered to community citizens, promoting their participation the project. Supporters of the community project have stated, ..."there are signs that Corning -- person by person, household by household -- is gradually becoming a kinder, gentler place" (Foderaro, 2002, 5). One superintendent involved with the Quality Schools in Corning indicated that his schools have had fewer suspensions since the project began (Foderaro, 2002). Additionally, despite the claim Glasser's Choice Theory is not supported by research, educator's research using Glasser's Choice theory with students has found student's learning and retention is increased as well as overall student satisfaction in the classroom. (Cooke, 1995; Martin, 1988).
[edit] Disagreements
William Glasser has written numerous books of which two are entitled, Defining mental Health as a Public Health Problem and Warning, Psychiatry Can be Hazardous to Your Health. These titles seem to directly challenge psychological and mental health professions. Some of these professionals have countered that Glasser's work has been an attempt to reinvent theories of other theorists such as Erich Fromm, the psychologist Abraham Maslow and the psychotherapist Carl Rogers (Foderaro, 2002, p. 2). Dr. W. Thomas Bourbon, a Perceptual Control Theorist from Rochelle, Texas wrote a review of Edward E. Fords book, Discipline for Home and School, Book Two: Practical Standards for Schools (revised and expanded edition). In this review, Bourbon describes a chronological history comparing the work of Ford along side the work of Glasser. Throughout his comparison of these theorists Bourbon challenges the credibility of Glasser's work. At one point in the review Bourbon states, "Does the material I have quoted from Glasser's web site seem to indicate that he (Glasser) has modified his personal beliefs in cause-effect to make them more compatible with PCT science? Are Glasser's assertions the same as PCT? You tell me" (Bourbon, n.d., 98 section, 2). Bourbon then refers to a lack of research supporting Glassers work, ... "it is a serious mistake to believe that a particular set of needs has been "scientifically proved" to be real" (Bourbon, n.d., 98 section, 10).
Randi's Reflection: The Choice Theory reveals a manner of observing behavior and examining the needs of individuals that appeals to me. Through an examination of the criticisms of William Glassers Choice Theory there was a discovery of, and an interest found for, the Perceptual Control Theory. This new interest
does not change the appeal of Glassers work, for me, it adds an extra added dimension to understanding the why of needs. Why do we have the needs we do? After reading Dr. Bourbons opinions and perceptions I was left wondering what got him so invested in his stance, seemingly against anything to do with Glasser. Personally I see both of these theories working hand in hand, I also believe there is room for both theories. Through my observations in life I have come to believe that Everyone has choices everyday. Sometimes we are unaware we have or make these choices by becoming aware we become responsible not only for our choices but also to make these choices consciously. We ALL have the choice about how we feel how we react how we think I believe that we ALWAYS have a choice with everything AND because of this choice we choose/create our reality. For do we not define reality through our thoughts and what we chose to believe. Tammys Reflection: When researching Glassers theory of Choice Theory, at first it sounded a bit too abstract. Although we all seek to have our needs met, I had not considered that those needs drove our every decision. I had felt that when students acted out it was because of an outstanding source or for a need for attention, but now I see that there are other motives that drive our behavior. I found the ten axioms to be fairly solid for me. There is one that I have used many times but did not know where it came from, You cannot control another persons behavior just your response to that behavior. I find that to be very true. Having learned the ideas from Glassers Choice Theory, I can now better evaluate why a student might be acting out and determine which of his needs are not being met.
Val's Reflection: After reviewing Glassers theory, I believe that many of my own personal beliefs mesh with his Choice Theory. I often tell my students that we cannot control what happens to us but we control how we choose to react. There are many hardships facing our students today, do we really want them to sit around and belly ache about how bad it is or do we want to help them take steps to improve their own situations. Choice theory does not allow ones environment to be an excuse but instead treats it as a learning opportunity. The path to becoming a responsible person is a tough one and it comes with facing problems and choosing the best way to learn from those problems. There is a need to feel we deserve better, the empowerment that develops with making ones own decisions can only increase self-esteem. There will be mistakes but that is how problems are solved, by finding a solution. Ultimately the students choices determine what and how successful they will be. A personal area of improvement would be to have higher expectations for my students. I have high expectations for younger family members. In the current grading systems, I do not allow them to settle for a C. I have a friend who has observed this and asked me Why is it okay for your students to have a C and not your nephew? I didnt have an answer. I feel this expectation should be relevant for everyone I care about and I have resolved to hold my students to this expectation as well. Although I might not be able to support my students as much as my own family but I feel this is an attainable goal and will strive to push my students toward it. Another expectation I would like to implement is that of helping one another, an exemplary grade can only be earned if the student chooses to help others. I believe this a very important life skill and plan to integrate it into future classes.
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