Does resonance and inductive effects are all about the Electron Withdrawing and Electron Donating Groups as well as the ortho, para, and meta directors in their activating and deactivating forms, respectively?
I think I understand what you are asking, and the answer is yes. EWGs are deactivating and EDGs are activating. Remember, halogens are ortho/para directing but are deactivating (the only ones that are). EWGs are also resonance contributors. Remember what it means to be electron withdrawing - you are removing the electron density from the conjugated π system and making the system more electrophilic.