passivity

Passivity refers to the state or quality of being inactive or submitted to the influence of others. In technical usage, passivity denotes the property of a system, material, or process that does not generate energy and often dissipates or stores energy supplied to it. The term contrasts with activeness or energy production and is used across disciplines to describe both behavioral tendencies and physical or engineered properties.

In physics and chemistry, passivity appears in contexts such as passive transport across membranes (diffusion, osmosis) which occurs down a concentration gradient without cellular energy, and chemical passivation, where a material—especially a metal—forms a protective, nonreactive surface oxide that reduces further corrosion.

In electronics and control theory, passive components include resistors, capacitors, and inductors that do not provide gain; they may store or dissipate energy but cannot amplify a signal. A system is called passive if it cannot generate energy; such systems are often easier to stabilize and are central to energy-balance methods used in control design.

In psychology, passivity can describe a tendency to retreat from action or to be compliant, while in social or political contexts, it may refer to nonassertive behavior or nonviolent resistance. The term is also used in philosophy and phenomenology to discuss the experience of perception and action, though usage varies by field.