From tommyguns: why do some many pally abilities cause self-penalties?
Because, as chaste, pious, righteous types, we feel sorry for causing harm/damage to others or for using our given abilities on ourselves so we have to pay a penance (that'd make us passive/aggressive, or is it aggressive/passive, wouldn't it)? :)
Or maybe it's because the blues feel bad for giving us abilities that others hate us for (that would make them passive/aggressive).