Question: I used to practice stories from internet & YouTube. If I get similar picture in my SSB during PPDT or TAT, can I write same story that I watched on YouTube or practiced beforehand?
Answer by Cdr RS Rathore (retd.): The personality of any individual is dynamic (it keeps changing). During the student-life, there is usually a positive change in the individual because of the improvement in knowledge, exposure and physical fitness. Hence, candidates should not stick to their stories forever. What a candidate wrote six months back cannot be as good as what he can write today.
Qualities seen by the psychologist in story writing:
- This is a sub-conscious level test and picture shown to the candidates are from different walks of life. Hence, the stories written by a candidate are also according to what he/she has learned regarding different walks of life. In addition, our emotion and responses change with maturity so a story written by me will never be consistent with your learning and personality. Thus, the stories written by a candidate give complete personality of the candidate. Subsequently, through the 12 stories of the candidate different levels of all the 15 OLQ come to the fore.
- Correct perception (story should be formed based on the picture) to the stimulus (picture) shown.
- Intelligence (clarity of situation, high but achievable aim and judicious use of resources with correct priorities to achieve the aim) and how well formulated (organisational skill) is the story.
- Communication skills (are seen in English. However, Hindi may be used if one gets stuck).
- All the leadership qualities for instance, self-confidence, initiative, speed of decision & ability to influence the group etc. (of candidate is evident by the way the hero & other characters in the story choose to behave & perform).
- Social behaviour (amicable, adjusting, responsible nature of the candidate is evident by the way the hero & other characters in the story choose to behave & perform).
- The dynamic qualities for instance, determination, courage & stamina (of candidate is evident by the way the hero & other characters in the story choose to behave & perform).
Please keep improving with time in all facets of life. The stories will automatically improve.
Repeaters & freshers are shown the same set of pictures. Therefore, there might be a picture on which you have written a story in your previous SSB. Do not write verbatim what you wrote earlier. You may like to improve the story with better situation awareness, pragmatic approach and new-found values.
In the end I will suggest that one should practice stories from internet & YouTube but don’t write verbatim what you practiced earlier. Improve yourself every day.