reality therapy

treatment that focuses on an individual’s ineffective or maladaptive behavior and the development of the ability to cope with the stresses of reality and take greater responsibility for the fulfillment of his or her needs (i.e., discover what he or she really wants and the optimal way of achieving it). To these ends, the therapist plays an active role in examining the client’s daily activities, suggesting healthier, more adaptive ways for the client to behave. Reality therapy tends to be of shorter duration than traditional psychotherapies. [developed by U.S. psychiatrist William Glasser (1925–2013)]

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Psychology term of the day

November 24th 2024

social indicator

any feature of a society or a subgroup within it that can be measured over time and is presumed to reveal some underlying aspect of social reality and quality of life. For example, the retail price index is used as a measure of inflation, which in turn is taken as a key indicator of economic performance. Other commonly used indicators are derived from unemployment figures, per capita income, poverty levels, labor conditions, housing costs, mental health, general health and mortality data, nutrition information, pollution levels, crime rates, education levels, opportunities for leisure and recreation, and the status of older adults. Researchers and policymakers frequently use social indicators to assess the extent to which a society is “progressing” as well as to make predictions about its future.