1. William Glasser: Choice Theory and Reality Therapy
By Shannon Frantz
EDU 502 1

2. Who was William Glasser?
A psychiatrist known for establishing choice theory and reality therapy, which was applied not only to counseling situations, but also the American education system.
(Vitello, 2013) 2

3. Who was William Glasser?
Glasser was born May 11, 1925 to Betty and Ben Glasser, who was a watch and clock repairman.
He was a shy young man, who felt the need to overcome his modest background.
Earned a chemical engineering degree in from Case Western Reserve University, but was unhappy in this career path. 3

4. Who was William Glasser?
Glasser returned to the university and earned a second bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1953, completing his residency at a Veterans Administration hospital in Los Angeles.
During his first job at a girls reform school in Ventura, California he completed case studies that were used in developing his Reality Therapy concept.
Eventually, he founded the William Glasser Institute in Chicago, which trained several thousand educators and counselors in Choice Theory. 4

5. Who was William Glasser?
The Institute also has helped establish 20 school districts that implement his theories, which are called “Glasser Quality Schools” (Vitello, 2013).
(2010) 5

6. Picture this!
(Rose, 2003).

7. What is choice theory?
Explains that human behavior is guided by five basic needs:
(Russel)

8. So, what are YOUR basic needs?
Basic needs differ from one person to another. What one person feels is important, someone else might find insignificant.
Click on the picture to complete the Basic Needs Survey to determine how your personal needs fit into Glasser’s five categories:
Survey adapted from: (Russell)

9. Discussion Forum
Please share your basic needs results by clicking on the forum logo below: 9

10. Main Aspects of Choice Theory
People have control over their own lives
Empower individuals to make choices to improve their lives and assume responsibility

11. A Quality World & Total Behavior
When an individual has all five basic needs met, then he/she is living in a quality world.
Humans “perceive the world by looking for people or things to satisfy what we want” (Zeeman, 2006).
Inappropriate behaviors occur from a lack in one of the basic human needs categories.
A person’s total behavior is comprised of acting, thinking, feeling and one’s own physiology. 11

12. A Quality World & Success Identity
A person develops a success identity when he/she has a “positive self-concept... [and is] doing well academically, behaviorally, and socially” (2006).
Glasser believes that “people have more control over their lives than they realize...[and that] People need to “realize there are choices they can make to improve their world...to feel empowered and to assume responsibility for their lives”(Sori & Robey, 2013). 12

13. How does Choice Theory work in Education?
Children can learn to choose healthier behaviors.
Parental support can help children make appropriate choices and assist them in making changes.
Teachers can meet student several basic student needs by “encouraging students to socialize while they work...as a planned part of learning” (Brandt, 1988). 13

14. How does Choice Theory work in Education?
Educators can help empower students by making them feel “important...at a minimum somebody listens to you” (1988). Building self-esteem is key.
Teachers should create cooperative learning lessons that allow inquiry, self-investigation, an in-depth searches for knowledge using activities that are designed specifically for this purpose. 14

15. 7 Caring Habits and 7 Deadly Habits
Glasser believed that good relationships are based on positive interactions.
Try the following online game to see if you can correctly label the 7 Caring Habits and 7 Deadly Habits by clicking on the picture below:
Hint: When finished, use the check mark icon to determine if your answers are correct. 15

16. What is reality therapy?
Developing responsibility – satisfying one’s needs without disregarding that of others
Decision making – considering alternative actions and their consequences

17. Results of Reality Therapy
In terms of classroom management, the teacher “combines humanistic and behavioral methods to achieve successful behavior change” (Marandola & Petty, 1979).
Helps merge special education and education children into one classroom with less behavioral issues.
Meetings address “individual strengths and weaknesses, without singling out…[and do not] demand a great amount of time” (1979).

18. Results of Reality Therapy
Children are enabled to initiate and help mediate such meetings as they feel is necessarily, thus sharpening their social skills.

19. How can teachers use reality therapy?
Glasser recommends three types of meetings, in order to guide students through this process. Such meetings should always be nonjudgmental and involving the entire class.
Social-Problem-Solving Meeting – “concerned with students’ social behavior in school” (Marandola & Imber Petty, 1979)
Open-Ended Meeting – “concerned with thought- provoking questions” (1979)
Educational-Diagnostic Meeting – “dealing with how well the students understand the curriculum” (1979)

20. How to use Reality Therapy in Classroom Management
5) Obtain commitment
6) Accept no excuses
7) Don't punish
8) Never give up
(Gamble & Watkins, 1983)
1) Establish involvement
2) Focus on current behavior
3) Evaluate behavior
4) Plan responsible behavior
(Carter) 20

21. Glasser's Quality Schools
In Glasser Choice Theory and Reality Therapy run schools, the teachers follow the SESIR steps (Zeeman, 2006) for instruction:
S – Show what to do
E – Explain how to do it
S – Self-evaluate/Evaluate
I – Improve what you are doing
R – Repeat until mastery is achieved 21

22. Criticisms of Glasser
Glasser has no interest in past history or mental health status, instead he focuses on the present issue.
He argues, “Our job is to take people out of the past, orient them in the present as much as we can and possibly persuade them to do this, and point them toward the future. Focusing on the past is counterproductive. It gives people an excuse to stay where they are and is very harmful...We spend too much time acting as victims and blaming others” (Nystul & Shaughnessey, 1995).
He claims, “I have been able to treat people with good success without medication and therefore never felt any need to turn to these substances” (1995). 22

23. Criticisms of Glasser
“Emphasizing behavioral or even possible neurological differences is not the way to help kids learn...[it] is the rare instance” (Brandt, 1988).
He minimizes goal interpretation and motivational understanding. 23

24. Choice Theory and Reality Therapy in Action24

25. Resources
Brandt, R. (1988). On Students' Needs and Team Learning. Educational Leadership, 45(6), 38.
Carter, Dwight. Classroom Management. [Online image]. Retrieved April 30, 2015 from
Gamble, C. W., & Watkins Jr., C. E. (1983). Combining the Child Discipline Approaches of Alfred Adler and William Glasser: A Case Study. Individual Psychology: The Journal Of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 39(2), 156. 25

26. Resources
Marandola, P., & Imber, S. C. (1979). Gasser's Classroom Meeting: A Humanistic Approach to Behavior Change with Preadolescent Inner-City Learning Disabled Children. Journal Of Learning Disabilities.
Nystul, M. S., & Shaughnessey, M. (1995). An interview with William Glasser. Individual Psychology: The Journal Of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, 51(4), 440.
Rose, S. W. (2003). The Relationship Between Glasser's Quality School Concept and Brain-Based Theory. International Journal Of Reality Therapy, 22(2), 52.
Russell, B. Dr. Basic Needs Analysis Activity. Retrieved May 3, 2015 from content/uploads/downloads/2010/12/Basic-Human-Needs- Profile.pdf.

27. Resources
Russell, B. Dr. William Glasser’s Basic Needs. [Online image]. Retrieved April 29, 2015 from happiness-and-fulfillment/.
Sori, C.F., & Robey P.A. (2013). Finding Reality in the Sand: Transitions with Children Using Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Sandplay. International Journal of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy.
Vitello, P. (2013, September 4). William Glasser, 88, Doctor Who Said One Could Choose Happiness, Is Dead. New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from psychiatrist-who-promoted-mental-health-as-a-choice- dies.html?_r=0

28. Resources
Vitello, P. (2013, September 4). William Glasser. [Online image]. New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2015, from psychiatrist-who-promoted-mental-health-as-a-choice- dies.html?_r=0
WGI [Online image]. (2010. Retrieved May 4, 2015, from
Zeeman, R. D. (2006). Glasser's Choice Theory and Purkey's Invitational Education-Allied Approaches to Counseling and Schooling. Journal Of Invitational Theory & Practice,