Invitational theory was firstly introduced by William Purkey in 1978 in his book “Inviting School Success” and describes an educational framework of learning/teaching relationships based on human value, responsibility and abilities.

Invitational theory starts from assumptions that each individual analyses situations according to his past experiences and observations (self-concept theory) and that he develops behaviors based on his perceptions of the world. Learning is observed in social context, where learners must be invited by the teacher to develop their potentials. The invitation here is described by Purkey as “a summary of messages, verbal and nonverbal, formal and informal, that are sent to students with the intention of affirming for them that they are responsible, able, and valuable.”

Purkey, William Watson, and John M. Novák. Inviting school success: a self-concept approach to teaching and learning. Wadsworth Pub. Co., 1984.