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Glasser - Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom
publication date: Mar 28, 2008
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author/source: Amazon
 Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom
William Glasser HarperCollins (5 Jan 1999)
Synopsis Glasser has worked with choice theory for half of his 40 years of psychiatric practice. Basically, choice theory helps its users avoid confrontation and ask pertinent questions. It sees conscious or unconscious desire for external control as the main problem in the four major personal relationships: husband-wife, parent-child, teacher-student, and manager-worker. If you think you can control others, it counsels, you are in for trouble, for the only person you can control is yourself. So all personal problems are both present problems and relationship problems. Glasser urges anyone in a relationship to ask, before taking a step, whether that step will keep the two related persons at least as close together as they are now; if it will, it may be worth taking. Combining choice theory and reality therapy in his practice, Glasser has been able to shorten the durations of his treatment programs substantially. As he presents them here, his theories and approaches can be applied in education and business as well as for self-help. Reviews This book really will change your view on life ....
This book is a fantastic insight into personal relationships, that you have with other people and yourself. When I first read the reviews that stated 'this will change your life' I must admit scepticism. However those reviews are quite true, this book will not revolutionise your life with a magic spell but will give you a different perspective, that will help you to revolutionise not only your life but that of others around you. Hats off to Dr. Glasser. The only fault I have with this book is that he does sell his theories a little too much in the book, but that doesn't detract at all from the wisdom the book imparts. A must read. READ THIS BOOK!
This is a wonderful book on human relationships. The concepts in this book are well worth working for. As a student of psychology, I have often found conventional psychology confusing. I have held Dr. Glasser's beliefs for quite some time and now I have found them researched and recorded! I am very excited about this book! This book gives a wonderful insight on human thought and behavior. Conventional psychology fails us in so many ways. We can see this as we look at the world around us today. We must each understand one another's quality worlds instead of trying to force our own quality worlds onto other people. If we all worked at simply getting along with each other and finding happiness, the world would be a better place. This may sound trite to some--all I can say to them is "READ THIS BOOK!" If you want to get along better with your spouse, your children, your co-workers, etc. ... READ THIS BOOK! If nothing else--do it for your family--especially your children! The theory is valuable, but may be harmful to some. The book outlines Choice Theory, a belief that all problems we face are "relationship problems" -- employee/manager, teacher/student, spouse/spouse, etc. It states that when we give up the notion that we can control anyone else but ourselves, our problems will disappear, including psychiatric disorders, bad marriages, and failing schools. While mostly valuable, the theory shows its seams in its treatment of the most distressed populations -- those with mental illnesses and those experiencing domestic violence. The former assertion -- that all mental illness is a chosen behavior -- is puzzling at best; the book's short treatment of the latter, however, is particularly grating, stating that traditional, "external control" methods of dealing with those choosing to abuse -- such as treating domestic violence as crimes, I suppose -- are ineffective, and that "diversion programs" to get offenders into Choice Theory counseling are the only real way to end the problem. There is nothing to back up such a wild claim (disproven by dozens of models showing that treating domestic violence as a crime is the only effective deterrent) save for a citation of a program in Ohio which shows a certain "success rate" for those completing a Reality Therapy program -- failing to mention what a "success" is, who goes through it, how it is measured, how long it lasts, how much safer the victims of abuse actually feel after their abusive partners finish the course, and so on. Because the book makes such grand claims about improving realtionships, and because abuse in relationships is unarguably the biggest challenge that the two people can face, such short shrift undermines belief in the theory. When the author and his theory stick to standard, common-sense suggestions, the book is a welcome addition to the self-help field; when it is stretched by more serious problems, however, it merely appears naive.
Choice theory helps its users avoid confrontation and ask pertinent questions. It sees conscious or unconscious desire for external control as the main problem in the four major personal relationships: husband-wife, parent-child, teacher-student, and manager-worker. As he presents them here, his theories and approaches can be applied in education and business as well as for self-help.
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