Friendswood Discussion Question 1

Through your new understanding of positive accountability, discuss the way in which Dex applies it to his life. Please focus your discussion on his accountability to Willa Lambert.


           Dex applies positive accountability by being honest with Willa regarding what exactly occurred the day of the rape incident and his involvement in the incident as well. In a book by Carl Alasko,  Beyond Blame: Freeing Yourself from the Most Toxic Form of Emotional Bullshit, positive accountability is defined in two ways. One of the the ways positive accountability is defined is "to thoughtfully acknowledge an error, your own or another person's, and consider how to repair it, if necessary."(124). While out with Danni and Willa, Dex tries to repair his error when he tells Willa the full truth-- "... I was there that day at the Lawbournes'. I swear I didn't know what they were doing...I thought you were with Cully, so I didn't say anything...They put something in your drink...I heard at the end what they were doing, but I didn't believe it. I feel like shit about that."(Steinke, 305). Dex takes responsibility by telling Willa he was at the party and by explaining why he did not react to her being there. He then proceeds to attempt to repair his disloyalty when he tells Willa she was drugged at the party. Dex thoughtfully acknowledged his error of not intervening at the party or after he was informed that Willa had been drugged then, through honesty, tries to repair his mistake by allowing total transparency in their friendship.