Who Is to Blame for Our Choices?

"Do you blame others for the choices you are making? Have you blamed others for the previous choices you have made? To shed more light on these questions, you might also ask yourself: "What am I responsible for, and what power do I have?" From there, you might agree with this self-reflective response: "I am responsible for, and I've got the power over what I think, do, say, learn, and choose" (Purje, 2014)."

"Cognitive behavioural therapy asserts that all presenting behaviours result from self-initiated thoughts and self-directed actions (Beck, 1979; Meichenbaum, 1977; Sartre, 1946/2007). This also means that individuals can change their thoughts and actions (for which they are responsible) at any time, and as often as they wish, through their intentional, self-selected thoughts and newly self-initiated, self-directed behaviours (Beck, 1979; Meichenbaum, 1977)."

All behaviour is self-selected, meaning individuals decide how to think, act, and respond (Glasser, 1986). Individuals are accountable for their attitudes, actions, choices, and behaviour. Philosophers Immanuel Kant and Jean-Paul Sartre maintain that people possess an inescapable power to choose and are authors of their decisions through reason and will. Cognitive behavioural therapy asserts that presenting behaviours result from self-initiated thoughts and self-directed actions and that individuals can change their thoughts and actions at any time through intentional, self-selected cognition and behaviour. Educational psychology addresses self-regulation, self-management, and metacognition (Flavell, 1979).

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