Active vs Passive Response

1. Behaviorally, active response is spontaneous, energetic prompt and well

organized. The respondent shows positivity and exuberance while
executing the task. Active response leads to another similar action since
the feedback is in the form of encouragement. Passive response on the
other hand as the definition goes is labored, lacking in energy. The
respondent is unsure, not focused and is more or less forced into acting. It
is in some way a defensive action in some cases may be avoidance.
Evidently, there is lack of will and such an action is more a reaction and
there has to be much less efficiency. Everyone needs a worker who is
active respondent as against the passive one; armed forces being no
exception to this need. The words they use are different to state their
need. They want people who are live wire, always charged to act, doers
and not mere thinkers. Too much of thinking is a waste of time and in
some cases a retrograde exercise. Not backed by action, it is only a
wishful waste.
2. Active thinking is precise, clipped and motivating in its nature. Such
thinkers explain the actions; schedules, aims objectives and the related
activities more. Passive ones get in to philosophy, obstacles and
comparisons and too many alternatives and the relative merits. Active
persons talk in terms of present whereas passive ones are likely to talk in
terms of future. Active ones’ answers when put in writing have more ‘do’
‘doing’ and ‘can do’. Passives answer in terms of ‘will do’, ‘will have to
do’, ‘should do’, ‘must do’, ‘should not’ and ‘must not do’ etc. Too much
logic to avoid real action is another sign of passivity or avoidance. Such
individuals are professional explainers and spend much energy in
convincing others as to why do them not act instead of actually acting.
3. SSBs need candidates who are pro-active persons and have habit of
getting on with the task in hand instead of procrastinating, indulging in
armchair thinking. GTOs can spot such persons straight way with their
laid back behavior. Psychologists read their responses and can easily
make out with their answers both in TAT and WAT. Their stories are that
of persons who indulge in day dreaming, writing impractical filmy
accounts. IOs have their own ways of knowing whether thoughts of the
interviewees have practical side.
4. Positive side is that the thought can be retrained to result in prompt active
behavior. It is a habit to think in terms of passive actions learnt in the
family or in the community one grows up. Awareness of one’s thoughts
is the first step. One can be shown with examples as to how the passivity
is visible in one’s ideas. It may come as a shock and any intelligent
person can correct the habit of such thought immediately since it is major
hurdle in anyone’s achievements. Another step is the right kind of
affirmations or visualizations. Repeated exercises show immediate results
 that act as powerful feed backs. It becomes self - generating process and
never ends.
5. Active persons can be recognized by their behaviors as well. To start with
they have active body language. They stand properly, walk gracefully and
look into the eyes. Body of an active person is straight, relaxed and is
energetic in its stance. They are active listeners without interrupting and
give out their opinion at the right moment and when they have to.They
make effective statement that is clear and clipped. Pro-active people need
not indulge in un-necessary arguments and are neither boastful of their
achievements nor too humble. They are matter of fact in their statements.
An active person is convinced of his actions but is also open to
suggestions and ready to change course in case required. They act from
the heart and love what they do. These individuals may not be too
intelligent but are optimistic and ready to experiment and take chances by
way of productive risks. It is evident that they do not procrastinate and
start immediately. There is hardly any ‘should’, ‘must’ or ‘will do’ in
their discourse. It is always ‘do’, ‘doing’ and they prefer to stay in the
present.
6. Passives on the contrary have body language that is opposite of those who
are active. It may be slumped; showing signs of lethargy and moves with
much less energy. Body is more defensive in stance. Passive persons are
reactive and explainers than doers. They have many alternatives and are
likely to keep weighing the merits and demerits of each likely course of
action endlessly. Such individuals move in case they are forced. They
may be restless at times since they do not move because of indecisions.
They have set language that has many ‘should’, ‘must’ ‘will do in future’
etc. They may be pretenders and boastful.
7. Active person can only take up the leadership role since he only has the
natural ability to be a role model. Men whom he commands want action
and not speech. They get motivated on the demonstrated performance and
not on stated likely actions. Quick productive decisions are more
inspiring than the mere promises.
8. It is simple to be active and more enjoyable since the feedback of action
is immediate. Passivity is in fact painful, creates a feeling of guilt and
regret and the practitioner of lethargy is a loser in the end. Simple actions
to break habit of procrastination and indecision can go a long way in
winning the battle against the lethargy and general passivity.