Glasser Choice Theory

Glasser, founder of the choice theory, believes that all students internally select their behavior in order to satisfy one or more basic needs. For instance, he maintains that people are not victims of external circumstances that force them to behave a certain way. He asserts that teachers should make school interesting and fulfilling for students by satisfying their basic needs for security, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Glasser says that educators shouldn’t expect students to work and behave properly unless these basic needs are being satisfied enough, so that it makes sense for students to continue to work and behave accordingly. The premise of Glasser’s approach is using positive influence, building relationships, and proper

One of Glasser’s fundamental principles is that teachers and administrators should make school enjoyable —a place where students want to be. He asserts that most problems between teachers and students are caused by unsatisfactory relationships facilitated by what Glasser calls the seven deadly habits such as criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and rewarding students to control them. To improve relationships and support students in their learning, he encourages educators to replace the seven deadly habits with the seven connecting habits, which are supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. In building strong relationships with students, Glasser asserts that teachers should endeavor to befriend students rather than tell must and mustn’t do. Furthermore, reasonable rules of class behavior should be established. Glasser suggests teachers rely on one fundamental rule of behavior, known as the Golden Rule. He says that a few other rules may be necessary occasionally, but the Golden Rule should be fundamental to