You might, for a moment, think that the fundamental principle that people are reactive is in direct opposition to the fundamental principle that people are responsible for themselves. Only for a moment though.
So we have:
People are reactive.
People are responsible for themselves.
These are not one, nor are the mutually exclusive. Nor are they two sides to the same issue. They are different, distinct and individually necessary to understand human effectiveness.
I cannot be an effective human being without being both reactive and responsible. I am responsible for my choice of reaction. If I do not react, that is choice of a reaction, and I will endure the consequences of that decision.
The fundamental principle that people are reactive supports what economists say, people react to incentives – they are attracted to positive reward and abhor negative consequences.
Green Octahedron Blogging 