Let us take a look at how choice theor affects foster children, and foster parents as well.
What Is Choice Theory?
Choice theory explains human behavior and why. Every action we take has a purpose: always to try to meet the fundamental psychological and biological demands of power, freedom, enjoyment, love and belonging, and survival. Because of this, it is key to understanding foster children through choice theory. We constantly strive to meet one or more of these fundamental needs, which is why the theory is termed Choice Theory. All behavior is currently our best attempt to manage ourselves and control the environment around us.
An individual can only regulate their behavior. When we read Inspirational Stories for kids, we strive to teach the value of quality by example, since realistically, a person cannot “make” someone else do anything they don’t want to do.
Choice and Human Behavior
The fundamental tenet of choice theory is that our decisions determine every aspect of our behavior, which is why it is a way of understanding foster children through choice theory. This idea holds that people are driven by their needs and wants and base their decisions on how they believe they can meet them. Our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs influence our decisions, rather than just outside influences.
When understanding choice and human behavior, do not confuse it with the stimulus-response theory since it opposes choice theory. This is because, following choice theory, every action is driven by internal motivation and decision, which is contrary to the stimulus-response paradigm, an external factor or entity is responsible for behavior.
Understanding Foster Children Through Choice Theory
Photo by Thiago Cerqueira on Unsplash
Needs for Survival
Foster children frequently come from homes where the necessities of life—food, housing, and safety—were not sufficiently provided. When understanding foster children through choice theory, a child may act out in ways that attempt to protect their physical safety or to satisfy desires they may have missed earlier in life when their survival needs are threatened.
Children in foster care must feel physically safe and secure to concentrate on their emotional needs rather than merely surviving.
Needs for Love and Belonging
Most foster children yearn for a sense of love and belonging which they are not able to get in if they are constantly passed on from home to home. Because of this, they often feel a certain degree of alienation, abandonment, or that they are not deserving of affection because they have frequently been taken from their birth families.
However, because love is a “need,” foster children could find it difficult to think they are worthy of love or might behave in ways that alienate others out of fear of rejection.
Power Needs
Power refers to the need for control over one’s life, choices, and environment. Children who have been through the foster system often feel powerless because they have had little control over their circumstances.
A foster child may struggle with behavior problems, rebellion, or defiance as they try to regain some sense of power and control in their lives. When understanding foster children through Choice Theory, Choice Theory would suggest that it’s essential to offer children choices and encourage autonomy within safe limits. Allowing children to make decisions about their day-to-day life (within reason) can help them feel empowered and valued.
Foster caregivers can empower children by acknowledging their voices and providing opportunities for self-expression.
Needs for Freedom
Foster children frequently face restrictions on their living arrangements, roommates, and opportunities to meet their birth family, which can heighten their sense of powerlessness.
Foster children may feel more in control of their lives if they are allowed to make decisions about important things, such as what to wear or what activities to engage in.
Needs for Fun
The craving for pleasure and satisfaction in life is called “fun.” Since many foster children’s experiences may have been centered on emotional suffering and survival, this requirement may go unnoticed. Nonetheless, when understanding foster children through choice theory, the child’s well-being depends on having the chance to partake in enjoyable activities.
Fun and constructive experiences can help children develop happy memories, heal from trauma, and gain trust. Sports, play, creative endeavors, or just spending time in a calm setting can all satisfy this desire.
Final Thoughts
Understanding foster children through choice theory highlights how crucial it is to empower kids, create enduring bonds with them, and give them chances to address their needs healthily. Choice Theory can be applied by professionals and caregivers who work with foster children by giving them options, delivering constant support, and putting the children’s emotional and mental health first. Are you interested in reading a book about children who were moved frequently from home to home, who had no trust in adults, social skills, or values. Grab a copy of Sarah’s Touch now!
