Electron-donating groups (e.g., \( -\text{NHCOCH}_3 \), \( -\text{OCH}_3 \)) activate the ortho and para positions for substitution, while electron-withdrawing groups (e.g., \( -\text{CHO} \), \( -\text{SO}_3\text{H} \)) deactivate these positions and prefer the meta position.