Abstract
This article addresses issues of personal responsibility in human relationships from a cognitive-constructivist point of view, a perspective that differs from the one articulated by Steiner (1996) in his work on emotional literacy. As described in his 1996 article and in personal communications, Steiner believes that in complex human interactions we are partially responsible for our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In contrast, the position of this author—a view consistent with Buddhist teaching and other philosophies—is that to be a cognitive-constructivist implies that we are wholly responsible for creating our world, including our emotional reactions to it. Arguments pro and con are presented.