Preview

Understanding Choice Theory

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1123 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Understanding Choice Theory
Q1: Who is the founder of choice theory? What makes choice theory different other motivation theories?

A1: William Glasser was the man who invented the idea of choice theory. It differs from other motivation theories in the basic ways such as choice is driven through the external factors where in choice theory all decisions are based on internal instincts and that a person has control over every action that they do.

Q2: What function does a person’s “quality world” serve?

Quality world is a person’s view of how they want the world to be. This can be a conscious or non-conscious view. A person’s actions and choices are affected and guided towards this idea of quality world. When aware of one’s own quality world they are able to enhance their decision making so that they have the best chance at achieving it.

Q3: Describe the difference between ‘stimulus-response theory’ with that of ‘choice theory’. Consider for a moment your own life, are you motivated by stimulus response theory or choice theory. Provide an example to support your answer.

Stimulus-response theory is that where a person’s actions are really just reactions to an outside stimulus which could be an other person or factor. Choice Theory is the need to fulfill one of five of the basic needs in life which is a total internal battle. The distinct difference is that Stimulus-response is external and choice theory is internal. An example of Stimulus-response is when the cashier at the grocery store asks for $20 so I feel obligated to give it to her. The Choice theory there was that I feel the need to survive so I decide to make a trip the the store so I can buy food.

Q4: List the five basic needs,for each for each need provide an example that fits with your life now.

The need to survive - Buying food at the store
The need to belong - sitting with others at lunch
The need to gain power - attending a school so I have opportunity later in life
The need to be free - having the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the video “The Paradox of Choice” Barry Schwartz talks about how freedom is good in the Western industrial society, which gives us more choices. More choices have negative effects which increases paralysis and decreases satisfaction.…

    • 149 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Thaler and Sunstein provide a framework for decision making that can be applied and used across the board for health, wealth, and happiness, as well as other facets of life. They introduce behavioral economics to explain how decisions can be influenced so that a specific outcome is chosen. To lay the foundation for the decision making stage, Thaler and Sunstein establish the significance of a choice architect. A choice architect has the responsibility for organizing the context in which people make decisions (Thaler & Sunstein, 2). According to Thaler and Sunstein being a choice architect requires planning and knowledge, as the architect ultimately chooses an arrangement or environment that will provide individuals with the autonomy…

    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rational choice theory definition is the view that people behave as they do because they believe that performing their chosen actions has more benefits than costs. That is, people make rational choices based on their goals, and those choices govern their behavior. David Kwiatkowski, his risks was minimal at first because his co-workers and girlfriends were helping him get the drugs. But as time went on, David moved from place to place and with each different job he learned more about how the system worked. Then another factor is the fact is that he was not always alone in what he was doing. Meaning other co-workers was doing exactly what he was doing and they may not have known about each other but he was not only using his job to his benefit.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whilst recognizing that individual choices are important in determining health outcomes and risk of obesity, Marmot argues that in reality, personal behaviours and individual choices are commonly influenced by conditions in which people live and work and that socioeconomic position means that those, such that those who have more advantage have the freedom and opportunity to make healthier ‘choices’ (Marmot…). He argues that the rational choice theory is not particularly helpful in this regard as it still leaves the question unanswered why are people occupying lower positions in the social structure more often ‘choosing’ to be obese than those more advantaged?…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are four basic choice theories of why a person commits a crime. These four theories can be used to explain why a person commits a crime. The first theory is the rational cause theory. This theory explains that an offender’s motivation to commit a crime is for personal gain, such as ego, money, and greed. This theory concludes that on offender commits crimes purposely, even though they know the consequences of being caught.…

    • 285 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The concept of the Stimulus – Response Theory describes an external neutral signal /event (stimulus) (to unconditionally and automatically trigger (a behaviour or reflex. (Response).…

    • 1299 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Knowledge wise, rational choice theory continued to take different assumptions from other theories, with social exchange theory included.…

    • 822 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The rational choice theory says that we are choosing to commit a crime (Schmalleger, 2011). For example, a person has very little income and has a bill due. This person sits back and thinks of ways to come up with the money. Ultimately this person decides the only way to get the money is to commit robbery. Using the rational choice theory this person chose to commit the crime and must now deal with the consequences. The rational choice theory also states that the person who chooses to commit the crime feels the gain from the crime is far better than the repercussions of ignoring the law (Schmalleger, 2011). The rational choice theory is part of neoclassical criminology. Neoclassical criminology says that we are the ones who choose to commit crimes or choose to abide by the law (Schmalleger, 2011).…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first of the two theories was put forward by Byrne and Clore in 1970. They named this theory about the formation of relationships the Reward/Need Satisfaction Theory.…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The term choice theories better yet known as rational choice theories were developed by DR William Glasser in 1995. In Doctor Glasser’s theories he explains human desire to satisfy their genetic needs one has in order to survive. These desires cause humans to make conscious choices and act upon them in any way they decide to ensure the needed desires are satisfied. These theories relate to criminal activity because criminals feel that crime is their only way of fulfilling these desires. The need to survive is a primal instinct shared by all humans. When a person breaks a law, their offense becomes criminal and this affects society through costly trials, the need for more corrections, and housing; thus impacting the economy in a negative way.…

    • 336 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Scott J. (2000) "Understanding Contemporary Society - Theories of the Present: Chapter 9 - Rational choice theory", London: SAGE Publications Ltd.…

    • 3201 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    The first major Theory was The Expected Utility Theory, which indicates that individuals are likely to choose the decision that is the most valuable, but although this is true, this theory can account for unnecessary risk taking, which in turn can cause an unwanted outcome. The Prospect theory on the other hand accounts for certain biases within decision making however this does not take into account other aspects of decision making, such as the probability and other potential influences. The Social Functionalist Approach also shows that individuals are likely to feel pressured to make certain decisions, this may indicate that they are not making a decision based on what they believe, but rather what other people perceive as the correct decision. The Expected Utility Theory and Prospect Theory do show that although humans do appear to be rational decision makers in some sense, although this is not always the case, as there can be many things that can influence an individual’s decision, and due to this it is not possible to determine whether or not humans are indeed rational decision makers based entirely on…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Criminology

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The basic decision rule of rational choice theory is that to choose the behavior that is expected to maximize (that is, produce the most) utility and/or minimize (that is, produce the least) pain. Rational choice theory behaviors are driven by thoughts about future consequences. People do whatever they think will produce the most utility or least disutility. Rational choice theory says that all behavior is rational and it is all chosen (except for reflexes and the like).…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation EDU 213

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    directs, and sustains behavior. (Ormrod, J.E., p.362, (2011). Educational Psychology: Developing Learners. 7th Edition. Pearson Publishing: Boston, MA.) Motivation theorist describe this a being is a basic need of people for day to day living such as food, water and shelter. So when it comes to explaining the motivational theories this is how process theories are disturbed with shaping how individual behavior is energized, directed, and maintained in the specifically willed and self-directed human cognitive processes. Process theories of motivation are based on early cognitive theories, which envision that behavior is the result of conscious decision-making processes. The major process theories of motivation are expectancy theory, equity theory, goal-setting theory, and reinforcement theory.…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation Theories

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Differentiate between the 4 major theories on motivation: instincts/evolutionary, drive-reduction, hierarchy of needs, and arousal theory. Discuss their origins, and explain why they cannot fully account for human behavior.…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays