What behavior allows individuals to passively process information?

The behavior that allows individuals to passively process information is information processing. This involves the cognitive activities that take place when individuals receive and understand information without the need for active engagement or interaction. It is a more automatic and less demanding mental process that often occurs when individuals are exposed to information in their environment, such as through reading or listening, but without the requirement to critically analyze or respond immediately to that information.

In contrast, information seeking involves an active effort to find information, while active generation requires individuals to create or manipulate information, both of which demand a higher level of cognitive engagement. Behavioral observation involves observing others' behaviors, which can lead to insights but does not directly facilitate the passive processing of information like information processing does.