Which theory asserts that individuals are not simply blank slates influenced solely by external forces?

Choice Theory is the correct answer because it posits that individuals have an inherent ability to make choices and take responsibility for their actions. This theory emphasizes that people are not merely passive recipients of external influences; instead, they actively participate in shaping their own behaviors and experiences based on their own needs and values. According to Choice Theory, individuals are motivated by their internal drive to fulfill five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. This framework highlights personal agency and the idea that individuals can choose how they respond to their circumstances, which stands in contrast to the notion of people being blank slates influenced solely by external factors.

In contrast, Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and the external stimuli that influence them, often disregarding internal processes or personal agency. Humanism emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization but does not specifically outline the active choice-making process central to Choice Theory. Psychoanalysis explores the unconscious influences on behavior and the impact of early experiences, again suggesting that individuals are shaped more by these internal processes rather than by deliberate choices made in the present. Thus, Choice Theory uniquely emphasizes the role of individual choice in shaping behavior.