DISCUSSION2

Reality therapists believe that most clients’ problems result from problems in relationships or lack of relationship and an inability to connect (Corey, 2017).  Reality therapists attempt to empower clients by helping them learn to be responsible for their own choices and recognizing the amount of control they have in their lives (Corey, 2017).  These concepts are supported by five principles (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015):

Principle one:  All human behavior is rooted in five genetic motivators.  Those needs are:  survival, love and belonging, power, freedom or independence, and fun (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015).

Principle two:  As human beings develop, we formulate certain wants related to each need and we store these in our minds, which becomes our “quality world”, or “mental photo album”.  Wants of one person can conflict with another person’s wants, and this is what leads to problems.  As people find certain experiences enjoyable, those experiences become our wants and desires.  When those wants are unsatisfied, our mental scale tips out of balance (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015).

Principle three:  Our behavior in general is referred to as our “total behavior”, which includes acting, cognition, feelings, and physiology (Corey, 2017).  When our behavioral system receives a signal that our quality world is out of balance, it generates a responsive behavior.  Behavior is a choice, but human being doesn’t always have complete control over their behaviors (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015).

Principle four:  Behavior is purposeful, not aimless.  All behavior is an attempt to impact our world in a way that at least one of our needs will be met in return.  People are always trying to shape their environments to match their “quality worlds”.  Total behavior is also an attempt to send a message to others (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015).

Principle five:  The goal of behavior is to derive at least one need and a single want in a person’s quality world, and to gain input from the actual world.  Human beings constantly compare what they want with what they are getting from the world, and are motivated by their perceptions of their fulfilled and unfulfilled wants.  Human beings seek perceptions (i.e. of competence, good health, loving relationships, and inner control).  There are three levels of perceptions:  1.  Label information (i.e. what is it?), 2.  See relationship (i.e. what is it for, what does it do?), 3.  Put a value on it (i.e. does it have neutral, positive, or negative value?) (Wubbolding, R. E., 2015)

2.  Discuss which of these principles you may find most challenging when using Reality/Choice theory with a client. 

I think the most challenging concept to employ in counseling a client would be trying to help them identify their actual motivation for their behavior, and accept that all their behavior is purposeful.  Frequently, we are convinced that we have no other choice but to react the way we do, and it seems like it could be challenging to help a client examine their motivations without causing them to feel defensive.  The concept that “all behavior is a choice, but human beings don’t always have complete control over their behaviors” seems slightly contradictory, and could be a tough concept to communicate to a client.

3. The cornerstone principle of choice theory is that human motivation is intentional.  Share with the class your personal view of human motivation.  

I think that human motivation/behavior is intentional at its root, but that a lot of it is subconscious and that we are unaware of a lot of what motivates us.  When a person is unaware of their motivations, or isn’t honest with themselves about their motivations, then the result of the behavior may be experienced as unintentional.  I agree that what motivates most of our behavior is connection with others.

References

Corey, G.  (2017).  Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy.  Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.

Wubbolding, Robert E. (2015).  The Voice of William Glasser: Accessing the Continuing Evolution of Reality Therapy.  Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 37(3), 189-205.

doi: 10.17744/mehc.37.3.01