Not All Habits Are Bad

Stephen R. Covey wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Mr. Covey has made teaching Principle-Centered Living and Principle-Centered Leadership his life’s work. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard and a doctorate from Brigham Young University. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Mr. Covey “presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity…” (Covey Back Page).

Question #1: “The current social paradigm tells us we are largely determined by conditioning and conditions” (Covey 67). What are the three widely accepted types of determinism? Please explain these types.

The three types of determinism are Genetic determinism, Psychic determinism, and Environmental determinism. Genetic determinism basically tells us we get our characteristics from our parents, who in turn got them from their parents. As an example Genetic determinism tells me that I got my temper from my dad through DNA, who got it from his father. “Psychic determinism… says your parents did it to you. Your upbringing, your childhood experience essentially laid out your personal tendencies and your character structure” (Covey 68). Environmental determinism puts the blame on your environment. You are who you are because of your friends, your teachers, and/or your economic situation. “Someone or something in your environment is responsible for your situation” (Covey 68).

Question #2: What is the most basic habit of a highly effective person in any environment?

Proactivity is the most basic habit of a highly effective person. Proactivity “means more than merely taking initiative. It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives. Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions. We have the initiative and the responsibility to make things happen” (Covey 71).

Question #3: Using the chart on 119-121 find your center and discuss how you came to this