Practice Does Not Pay You Always And Every Time

, 0

We practice many things with many a purpose. We practice to master any skill e.g. driving a car, to learn how to play a musical instrument, how to cook a dish, how to write on a typewriter (a qwerty keyboard in modern parlance). The wisdom behind practice is – Practice Makes You Perfect!!

The assumption is that the mistakes (or the incorrect responses) reduce on successive efforts and the desirable response (whatever is intended to be learnt) strengthens. This form of learning is called as the TRIAL AND ERROR FORM OF LEARNING. In other words the learning progresses on successive trails.

SSB Interview Practice

This form of learning i.e. `practice’ helps us in many fields. We learn the mathematical tables by practice. We mug up the model answers and practice to write (recall). We practice to play games including games like chess and the cards. We practice to cook dishes. We practice the steps in dance In short many psycho-motor and even cognitive skills are mastered through practice. A doctor `practices’ medicines and diagnosis and so does a lawyer. Here practice means APPLICATION of the LEARNT KNOWLEDGE.

[themify_quote]Through practice we refine our skills and firm up our recall. Practice in a way has become the mantra for our success in exams and in many fields wherever our performance is put to test.[/themify_quote]

And…under the influence to this PRACTICE mantra, most of the SSB aspirants start practicing. They practice to write the stories, to write the WAT sentences and quite a many start practicing even the Individual Obstacles and the short lectures as well. And this is the context I wish to say that practice has got it’s own limitations. It doesn’t pay you always.

Please be informed that in certain forms of learning (especially in the higher forms of learning) practice does not help at all. Learning is not progressive always. Let’s understand this point with an example:

Consider a question of rearranging the jumbled spellings. You have to rearrange the jumbled spelling INRUCTA into a meaningful word. Some of you got the answer instantly while quite a few are still struggling. The correct answer is CURTAIN. Now tell me frankly- how you got the answer? Did you get the answer by successive trials? Not at all.

The GESTALT SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY has explained how the HIGHER COGNITIVE learning takes place. GESTALT is a German word that means WHOLE. The Gestalt school of psychology prescribes that learning (certain form of Higher Cognitive Functions) is ALL or NONE affair. It is NOT PROGRESSIVE. Practice does not have a role. It HAPPENS ON A SINGLE TRIAL or IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT ALL!

According to Gestalt School of Psychology LEARNING IS SUDDEN and COMPLETE/WHOLE on a single trail. SUDDENNESS and COMPLETENESS are the two attributes of learning (of certain contents without any dispute). And let’s have an example to elucidate this.

Lord Buddha sat in meditation under a tree (The Bodhi Tree). He attained the enlightenment SUDDENLY. And this was TOTAL. He has not attained enlightenment with PRACTICE. It came to him in totality and just at one time as a WHOLE. It was not PROGRESSIVE.

How does such learning happens? The Gestalt School explains the process of such learning as the PERCEPTUAL REORGANIZATION. The process of reorganization of perception happens at the processing level. One does not have any control over the level of perceptual processing.

[themify_quote]There are many elements of Service Selection Boards preparations that need UNDERSTANDING and without any dispute this would happen only with PERCEPTUAL REORGANIZATION.[/themify_quote]

Before you start preparation you must understand the macro objectives of SSBs, methodology, rationale, how it evolved, the psychological faculties associated with various techniques and the sub-tests therein…Either this understanding IS THERE or JUST NOT THERE!! Any Practice without understanding these would be simply futile.

And that is why in my personal Guidance programme I devote almost a full day to explain those points that underlie the various tests. Then it is so simple to go further. Without creating the fair understanding of this—any guidance, coaching or mentorship is simply futile- infructuous.

Service Selection Boards are primarily the tests of your COGNITIVE ABILITIES and PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS. You will never be able to raise your abilities by practicing the answers and mugging up the stories etc.

You can not increase your abilities nor it is possible to showcase your needs if you don’t have them.

[themify_quote]Abilities can be honed and needs can be shifted. But for that you need a mentor who can profile you and advise you in one-to-one situation after diagnosing your Entry Level Behavior.[/themify_quote]

That is what I do in my PGP and that is what is missing in the coaching centres.

Psychology: The Queen of All Tests At SSB

0

Selection Boards of the Armed Forces remain tight lipped regarding their contents, methodology and philosophy. Most of the information related to contents, methodology and philosophy behind different testings at SSB are kept confidential in order to keep the assessment process organic. There is no official source and a candidate receives varied versions of this information from multiple sources like guide books (mostly from non-credible authors) and money minting academies.

In the absence of any standard and credible source diverse opinions come home to the minds aspirants/candidates. One of such beliefs is regarding the relative importance of the three different techniques at Service Selection Boards.

[themify_quote]Is Psychology the most significant test at SSB?[/themify_quote]

As per the common belief held by the candidates and non-candidates alike, the most important technique is Psychology. The Psychologist holds the veto in his hands or unless cleared by psychologist, no candidate could clear the Service Selection Board interview are the kind of the largest held beliefs. The psychologist is the most scary character among the assessors. This belief is a bit over exaggerated yet has its origin in some remote logic.

Tests and practices at Service Selection Boards are the derivatives of the various principles of Psychology. The tools of a Group Testing Officer (GTO) or an Interviewing Officer (IO) are not independent technically. These assessors use nothing but the well researched and well established principles/rules/constructs of Psychology.

Psychology in a way is the fountain head of all the techniques that are practiced at every Service Selection Boards. They merely appear independent. In fact they are not. The independence of the techniques of Group Testing and Interview is merely virtual. Despite this however, the belief that the psychologists hold the Veto in the matter of selection is incorrect. We have to understand the difference between the Psychology and the Psychologist in the context of SSB. Psychologist is one of the three assessors who is using certain tools from the vast and wide store of Psychology. His share is limited and say is just as important as that of the GTO or the IO.

We must understand then, the way these techniques really operate. Actually the Psychologist at SSB maps the contents of the mind whereas the other two assessors see how the mental contents articulate in the behaviour (words and actions shown individually and in a group or social situation). The approach of the psychologist is Structural where as the other two techniques follow the Functional approach.

Understand the Term ‘Positive’ or ‘Negative’

1

Naked truth startles the mind. Half truth goes even beyond that.

One of the most common and also the most confusing phrases used in SSB Preparations is ‘Positive‘. Number of academies and self-proclaimed experts are there to guide the aspirants with the evergreen phrase ‘Be Positive‘ or ‘Show Positive Attitude‘. I don’t wish to prove them wrong but wish to stress that this mantra sells alright but leaves you confused.

[themify_quote]’Be positive‘ mantra if not understood well, can have dangerous consequences.[/themify_quote]

So a story has to be positive (in Thematic Apperception Test), a sentence has to be positive (in Word Association Test) and a response has to be positive (in Situation Reaction Test). Not only this but also- a negative word has to be converted into positive word (how?????). With these instructions most of the SSB coaching academies ask you to start your preparation. Am I right?

When I asked the meaning of what is a positive story to an aspirant he gave me rather sketchy answer. According to that candidate a positive story is a ‘complete’ story, in which the hero is protagonist of values, which is mission oriented and in which he/she achieves the goal successfully.

The answer to what is a positive sentence is further confusing. A positive sentence is the one in which no phrases or negative facts are mentioned…which does not have dos and don’ts….which contains logic.

In psychology a response (or behaviour) is just a response. It reflects on certain psychological aspect. It either stands in accordance to his personality or is a freak behaviour. Not only psychological but social and cultural contents of his personality are also reflected through a response. Psychology as a science takes response or behaviour as behaviour. Psychology rarely evaluates behaviour to be positive or negative in the way it is taught at most of the SSB coaching centers.

According to psychology, any response or behaviour that promotes adjustment/resolves conflict or mental hygiene is a positive response (or defence mechanism).

Actually, the terms positive or negative sell faster. Other disciplines like management use this term rather frequently. Positive or negative are not absolute terms. What may be positive from one angle might be negative from another. ‘Don’t fight even with your enemy’ may highly positive from a spiritual or philanthropic angle while ‘fighting and annihilating enemy’ is highly positive from military point of view.

Also, I wish to submit that no word is positive or negative in itself. Words like death/disease/kill/rape reflect only on certain realities of daily life. Words like Kill/murder might sound highly negative from a common view point. But a murder is a professional challenge for an investigative agency or forensic scientist. Rape is brutality against women but gives fodder for social, psychological, legal and educational thinkers.

 So, let’s not confuse ourselves. Yes, one cannot avoid the terms positive or negative from our routine parlance.
According to me :-

A positive story is a story in which a difficult mission is achieved through hard work and a strategy (application of resources) by the central character (who is of the similar age and gender of the) candidate.

A positive sentence the one that reflect an idea or thought.
A positive response/reaction (in SRT) is the one in which the core issue of the situation is solved by practical means and methods.

Lower and Higher Human Needs

, 0

Abraham Maslow, an American Psychologist, gave the theory of ‘Hierarchy of Human Needs’. This theory once upon a time was greatly accepted- though modifications were suggested to this theory subsequently. Even today this makes the introductory reading on motivation.

According to this theory- humans have various needs- lower to higher. Lower needs are the needs to subsist. Food, water, rest, sex etc.. are the basic/viscerogenic or the lower order needs.

Then come the needs for security, affiliation, esteem and self-actualization. ‘Self-actualization’ and ‘esteem needs’ as per this theory are the higher needs. Fulfillment of one need gives rise to another. Or, as per presumption of this theory- higher needs arise only when the lower needs are satisfied.

On the face of it this appears fine- as per a hindi proverb- ‘Bhuke bhajan na hoyi gopala’ (One can’t pray empty stomach)! Humanists tried to relate/attribute even the errant or non-conforming behaviour like stealing etc to deprivation. बुभुक्षितम किम न करोति पापं? Means what sin a hungry man is not compelled to commit?

Cast a superficial look – you would only be convinced about this. So try to keep the people satisfied, happy so that their Higher Needs are aroused. And many of us greatly support this theory.

But this this theory does not explain why some people court death than face dishonour? Why the monk sold his ferrari? Why the dying Karna (of Mahabharata) dragged himself to get a stone to break his gold-fill tooth to give alms to the beggar? And the proverb- why a lion doesn’t eat grass?

Actually human needs are governed by our value system. It is the values that give rise to higher needs no matter the lower needs are satisfied or not. Rana Pratap vowed to fight for his country even when he did not have anything to subsist. Nirala one of the greatest Hindi poets- lived in abject poverty- yet cared– shared– gave all his possessions to beggars. So important are the values and not the satisfaction of lower needs!

And a true fighter’s personality lies in his values. He not only wins a war- he wins glory for himself, his country and society and lastly for humanity. Wars are won by CHARACTER and not by arms alone.

My young friends- think what you want to become. You not only should achieve a position in mundane terms but also must become a true hero in life with your character- with your concept of right and wrong- with your conduct and spirit of self-sacrifice.

Alert and Anticipating: Two main characteristics of a military officer

0

A great many thanks to Anita. She joined the personal guidance programme coming all the way from Ranchi and discussions with her stimulated this article.

There are two perceptions of a military officer. First is the technical perception (I took the liberty of coining this term). It means how the assessors see a military officer. The rote of fifteen qualities under four factors is attached with the perception of the scientists of DIPR (Defence Institute of Psychological Research) and those trained by them. Conventional SSB coaching academies have been the biggest propagator of such perception. On the day a batch arrives- the list of qualities starting from ‘Effective Intelligence‘ to ‘Stamina‘ is supplied to the aspirant without consulting him whether he would like to see a military officer in any different way.

The second perception is that of a common man who is not DIPR trained or running a SSB coaching academy. The common man sees military officer who is smart, dashing, dutiful, energetic, disciplined and who fights for his country. He does not mind the loss of his life and limbs in pursuit of his duties. But I wish to bring here the two exclusive points about what a common man finds (sometimes expects) in a military officer. His perception is not based on a formal training but-rather on his expectations and his common-place knowledge of the role of military.

He believes that a military officer is ever ALERT and ANTICIPATING. He attaches great value to these words because he compares this with the behaviour pattern or the habit of those in non-military profession (call them civilians). He feels that military officers are `different’ from a civilian in a way that a military officer is not sloppy, sluggish and sleepy. He is opposite of these. He can quickly swing into action. He hates procrastination. He is ever ready because he is alert and anticipating. As he is alert and anticipating his actions are timely and appropriate.

But what is he Alert against? What he Anticipates?

He is alert against the possible dangers or threats. He anticipates the worst. He is alive and alert to the designs of the enemy. He is not surprised by the moves of the enemy. Remember the `element of surprise’ is one of the important principles of war. Surprise the enemy and don’t be surprised by the moves of your enemy.

His alertness and anticipation are reflected in his thoughts that guide his actions, emotions and behaviour pattern.

[themify_quote]A great life guiding principle goes like this- Love all, hate none, trust only a few![/themify_quote]

This principle tells you to be alert. By posing blind faith or over trusting- you simply give invitations to troubles. If you are not alert and anticipating the worst could hit you. Kargil War happened because we never expected (anticipated) that Pakis would occupy the posts that we vacated during the winters. A soldier on patrolling or while on sentry duty is supposed to be alert. Pilots are required to do mandatory pre-flight checks. They get weather briefing before taking off and they are told in advance to be alert while passing thru certain areas. Even while preparing for an examination you are told what questions are expected- so that you are well prepared.

When you are alert and expecting (anticipating) – you can REACT to the situation well. In military a proverb goes like this- `Being forewarned is being forearmed’. Some years back Naxalites successfully ambushed and killed many a dozen members of a political party when they were travelling in a group somewhere in Jharkhand – Chhattisgarh belt. The travelling party never expected (anticipated) this. Similarly a police party was ambushed in the same region in which about 60 policemen lost their lives. The ambush of Naxals was successful because the police party was neither alert- nor they were anticipating it.

The qualities of ‘Alertness’ and ‘Anticipation’ are reflected in your responses of the psychological tests and interview.

I’ve seen aspirants evaluating the situations as ‘Negative’ and ‘Positive’ before responding to them. How can any situation be negative to deal with!

Like many other SSB aspirants, Anita was also told by her last mentor- that this is ‘Negative’. As a student of psychology, I don’t understand the two words that have made their webs through different SSB coaching academies- i.e. POSITIVE and NEGATIVE. These two words have made the SSB coaching business so profitable.

In my opinion whatever positive or negative you are told- is very much the part of life. Murder, rape, death, injury, fall, defeat, theft, riots, deceit… all these happen in the life around us. You need to have the skills of managing the negativity- rather than denying the very existence!!!

[themify_quote] Mind you denial is one of the worst kinds of `defence-mechanisms’. [/themify_quote]

You must have read these lines written by an American soldier from the battle fronts of Vietnam –

I AM A SOLIDER
I LIVE BY CHANCE
LOVE BY CHOICE, and
KILL BY PROFESSION

A person with military mindset never deny any situation. He is alert and anticipating.

 

Choose your SSB Mentor with great care

, 0

The first step towards building your career is to make a firm choice about it. It is wise to do some search and research before making the choice to join the armed forces. Please do it yourself- after all it is your life- your happiness. You can’t start anything without deciding what exactly you want to get. You should have a vision and your actions accordingly. ‘What to get’ must be your own choice. The profession of arms is not a bed of roses. It is filled with extreme hardship. And, if you have made your choice to be in this profession then it should be a firm choice.

The next question is ‘How to get’ into military profession. Here you have to make a strategy.

You have to acquire knowledge, seek information discuss various issues and be familiar with the pattern of examination and interview. The preparation for the officer cadre of the armed forces demands something much in addition to the knowledge (general and professional), awareness and knowing the examination pattern.

A lot of things at the Service Selection Boards still remain mysterious. So you need a mentor or a guru or a person with some professional expertise and experience who could unravel this mystery and give you some tips for your success. So you run from pillar to post- asking every available officer, buying/borrowing books and finally land up in an academy that is run by (in most of the cases) a self-proclaimed expert.

When I had to appear for my SSB interview some thirty years back, hardly any book worth mentioning was available. Academies hardly existed. I cleared it in the first and the only attempt I was eligible for. Today- there are scores of books and almost in every town of medium to large size, one or the two academies are running with handsome business turnover. But despite this- is there any improvement in the results? Not at all !! Take my words- the results are much the same i.e. 5-7 percent. Is it not an indicator of a contradiction?

[themify_quote]Just like the increased number of personal vehicles (cars, bikes etc) have only added to the traffic congestion- the increased number of so called self proclaimed experts, conventional coaching academies and books have only made the things difficult for the motivated aspirants.[/themify_quote]

What are the reasons of this contradiction?

Actually, coaching is not bad. Wrong coaching is bad. Reading a book on SSB is not bad but reading the book by a quack is definitely bad. If the source or the resource of your preparation is bad- take my words, success will only elude you.

[themify_quote]Learning is always good but little learning is a dangerous thing.[/themify_quote]

Learning should come from a reliable resource. Let me assert a fact about the tests and practices at SSBs. The tests and practices at the Service Selection Boards are the direct applications of the discipline of Psychology. Only a person who had studied psychology- and who has been associated with the armed forces- can understand the requirement of those psychological faculties that are tested/assessed at the SSBs.

Unfortunately very few in our country have studied psychology but people try infiltrate into this stream (with very few exceptions) based on only the commonplace knowledge, conjectures, their position in the organisation. The requirement of the officer cadre of armed forces is very unique.

At the time of my SSB interview even I was not aware despite being a Post Graduate in psychology. So take it from me- the academies and books and the so called mentors of SSBs are only those who have least knowledge of the academic discipline of psychology who try to intrude into this field (exceptions granted).

I need to highlight a fact especially about the retired service officers who declare themselves ‘Psychologists’. Actually they are the `assessors’ who are given about six week course certification into the process of selection at DIPR (Defence Institute of Psychological Research). They are like the quality inspectors who have been given the bare minimum terms only `to reject or accept’ a product. Whatever they know is limited to the process and context of selection only. Least they know the dynamics of behaviour.

You have a right to choose- and a right to know. Before you select your mentor- you must examine his credentials with respect to his knowledge and experience in the field of psychology.

In the scheme of psychological tests there are many things which only a psychologist can understand and explain. The ‘blank’ situation in TAT for example has a lot of theoretical implication. Unless the resource person knows the theoretical background of the blank situation- he will suggest all sort of non-nonsensical tips and you will follow taking it as the gospel.

Many of the coaching centers are being run by those who have only the EXPERIENCE of visiting a selection board. They have ‘cleared’ the SSB once or twice and with this experience they claim to be experts in SSB coaching. There cannot be a greater fraud than this. In yet certain other cases I have seen the SSB coaching academies being run by those who have neither been at SSBs- nor they are qualified to be the assessors- and in worst cases- they have no experience of being in the armed forces in any capacity.

A GTO can well train you for group testing, an IO can train you for interview technique but take my words- no person other than a qualified psychologist can train you in psych technique.

If you depend on a non-psychologist’s advice for preparation of psychological tests- your prospects are bound to doom. It is just like ‘taking synthetic milk‘ for raising your health.

I’m inviting you to share your thoughts in this matter.

When Officer Like Qualities Become Your Identity!

, 3

SSB Interview aspirants now a days are so familiar with the term `OLQs’ (Officer Like Qualities) thanks to the much increased awareness, better information network, lot of books and a number of SSB coaching academies.

The concept of OLQs has been well researched. Military training strengthens OLQs. Military life provides opportunities to practice OLQs in all spheres- Operational- Administration- Maintenance. Over a period of time OLQs become your nature, your identity….If not, then there would be something seriously wrong with the person!!

Here is a real story on Officer Like Qualities. Hope you would take home something from this.

Some three decades back when I joined the Indian Air Force as an officer, the working and social environment was different. Much more different than what is prevalent today.

In March 1988 I was chosen as the leader of Training Command Cycling Expedition. We had to start from Bangalore (now Bengaluru)- head straight on the Bombay (now Mumbai) highway- reach upto Dharwad- and turn toward Panjim (now Panaji). Then take a southward turn- reach upto Ernakulam crossing the entire coastal Karnataka from Karwar- then take eastwards- Reach Bangalore via- Thekadi- Dindigal-Salem.

The route was long- terrain was challenging and the weather was hot and swelter. Anyway the core and the context of the matter is something different here.

We had long briefing about the expedition with the maps and the contingency plans. Days were different then. No GPS, no cell phones- LL phones and STD booths had just started showing up- and were thought of a matter of luxury.

[themify_quote] Connectivity was the problem but this lack of connectivity had added a very special quality among the masses- Tolerance to Ambiguity. [/themify_quote]

I, as a leader of expedition had the special responsibility not only towards the success of the mission but also towards the welfare and discipline of the team members. All these while my mind was preoccupied with these thoughts though my team-members were quite co-operative and very well disciplined.

Think of devil- and devil will be there. The thought of any contingency always haunted my mind- and sure enough it came!! It was 15th March and there was a Bharat Bandh Call given by (Late) V P Singh on the Bofors issue (hope you know/remember what it was). That time we were passing through the coastal Kerala- beautiful and inviting- and a landscape with thought of the Eden. Yes- what was unbearable was the humidity and though it was only the March- the heat was quite parching!!

To ditch the heat we used to get up very early in the morning and set course on the expedition as early as 4.30 in order to cover maximum distance before the sun could grip the region with its heat. Breakfast used to be around 7.30 at any respectable and clean Dhaba. On that fateful day the same followed. Early in the morning we set course. At the break of dawn- we realized that the worst was in store for us!

Public responded well to the Bandh call by erecting obstacles on the road. All the business establishment were sworn not to entertain any transaction- come what may!

The morning labor of nearly two hours left me and my team hungry and exhausted. We badly needed food- tea-water and our sources on the roads remained locked. I tried to arouse the compassion of a few coconut water sellers who stockpiled their coconuts on the roads- but they would not buzz. And within no time the wisdom dawned on me that advancing further is impossible. I decided to halt and check in any motel. So ordered my team to put on the Air Force trek suits and search for any motel or resort.But Kerala is Kerala- especially in the matter of political sensitivity. We found a couple of roadside resorts- but they too refused to take up any business. I thought the day to be really cursed.

Then suddenly a thought flashed in my mind- To search for any Army/ Navy or NCC Units nearby. And my flash gave instant hope when we came to know that a DSC training unit was quite close by. Yes – we were near Cannonur (now Kannur).

With our Air Force trek suits we entered the premises of the DSC training Unit. I found out the office of the Adjutant. One Major Chandy was the adjutant who met me with great warmth- offered me water and tea and then asked me about my requirements. I pleaded him if it was possible for the Unit to accommodate and shelter my team for the next 24 hrs.

The officer there was quite senior, experienced and warm. Whatever he did resulted in arrangement of everything from shelter to my men in the Langar- instant arrangement of breakfast etc and then the Major detailed one Jawan to be with me in their officer’s mess and look after my comforts.

The hospitality was really great. We restarted on our expedition when the situation calmed down the next day. We had nothing but unlimited thanks for the sister organisation that came as our patron in crisis. Mentioning the warmth and their hospitality in my debrief was too little for the timely help and assurance they gave to us. Later I came to know that Major Chandy had sent a telegram also to HQ Training Command that the Air Force guys are safe with the Army.

Who was Major Chandy? Did I know him ever? Did he know me ever?

But he displayed unique spirit of empathy- accommodation-and a bond- that irrespective of the colour of uniforms we are ONE. Your happiness, sorrows, woos are equally mine.

This is a true example of Officer Like Qualities (OLQs) – Social Adaptability, Co-operation and Sense of Responsibility.

Do you have any such experience where you observed the other person reflecting good example of OLQs? Share it below.