William Glasser

William Glasser

William Glasser (May 11, 1925 – August 23, 2013) was an American psychiatrist and the developer of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Glasser's work focused on improving personal relationships and mental health through an emphasis on personal responsibility and the choices individuals make to meet their needs.

Early Life and Education

William Glasser was born in 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio. He pursued his education in the field of psychiatry, earning a B.S. in chemical engineering from the Case Western Reserve University in 1945, followed by an M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1953, and an M.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1957.

Career

After completing his residency in psychiatry, Glasser worked at the Veterans Administration hospital in Los Angeles, where he began developing his ideas about mental health and therapy. Dissatisfied with the traditional psychoanalytic approach, he focused on the client's current behavior and their ability to change it through making better choices.

In 1965, Glasser published his first book, "Reality Therapy," which outlined his approach to counseling and psychotherapy. This was followed by "Schools Without Failure" (1969), which applied his theories to the educational system. Over the years, Glasser wrote more than twenty books on topics including education, counseling, and management, all emphasizing the importance of personal choice and responsibility.

Reality Therapy and Choice Theory

Reality Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on problem-solving and making better choices in order to fulfill one's needs. Glasser identified five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. According to Reality Therapy, mental health problems arise when individuals fail to meet these needs, often because of poor choices.

In the 1990s, Glasser developed Choice Theory, a psychological model that explained human behavior based on internal motivation. According to Choice Theory, almost all behavior is chosen, and we can only control our own behavior, not the behavior of others. This theory underpins Reality Therapy, providing a framework for understanding and changing human behavior.

Impact and Legacy

Glasser's work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology, counseling, and education. His ideas about personal responsibility, choice, and the importance of fulfilling needs have influenced not only therapists and counselors but also educators and managers. Despite criticism from some quarters for oversimplifying human behavior, his emphasis on the individual's power to choose and change remains influential.

Glasser was the president of the William Glasser Institute, an organization dedicated to teaching the principles of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory. His work continues to be taught and practiced around the world.

Selected Bibliography

• Reality Therapy (1965)
• Schools Without Failure (1969)
• Choice Theory (1998)

Death

William Glasser passed away on August 23, 2013, at the age of 88. His contributions to the field of psychology, particularly in the areas of therapy, education, and personal growth, continue to be celebrated and applied.