This important work, the latest by Dr. Glasser, is a bold proposal for helping families, schools, work places and entire communities, to help people feel free, and at the same time, get along with each other.
The essence of choice theory is exemplified in this situation: you hear the telephone ring; you answer the phone. The reason you answered the phone? Because it rang. No, The reason you answered the phone is because you chose to answer the phone. You could have chosen not to answer it.
The opposite of choice theory is what Glasser calls external control psychology, that we are feeling or behaving because of some external person or situation, which may be true in extreme cases such as war or natural catastrophes. But in ordinary life, if we believe "You made me angry;" or "You made me break it." and similar excuses for our behavior, then we are controled by a belief in external control psychology. In Games People Play, (1964), Berne lists a number of games with a similar theme as in "You made me do it." or "See what you made me do;" or "If it weren't for you." "Look how hard I tried." and "Aint it awful."
