Reality therapy posits that behavior is purposeful and motivated by the need to satisfy which of the following?

• A. Basic needs
• B. External rewards only
• C. Deterministic fate
• D. Social obligations only

Answer: (A)

Reality therapy teaches that behavior is purposeful and aimed at meeting fundamental internal needs. Glasser’s choice theory identifies five basic needs—survival, love/belonging, power, freedom, and fun—that people try to satisfy through their actions. Because behavior is driven by this internal system, the best explanation for why someone acts is to fulfill these basic needs rather than chasing external rewards alone, being fated, or focusing only on social duties. External rewards are not the central motivator in this view; instead, individuals choose behaviors they believe will best meet their basic needs, and they can exercise control and responsibility over those choices. The other options are too narrow: they either emphasize external reinforcement, deny personal agency, or limit motivation to social obligations, all of which don’t capture how needs drive purposeful behavior.