Learned Helplessness

Definition

Learned helplessness is a psychological state in which an individual has learned to believe that they are powerless to control or change their circumstances, often as a result of repeated exposure to uncontrollable or unavoidable negative experiences. This term is closely related to motivation, learning approaches, stress regulation, and mood disorders.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Learned helplessness was first demonstrated in experiments where dogs were subjected to inescapable electric shocks, leading them to become passive and fail to attempt to escape even when they had the opportunity to do so.
2. Individuals who develop learned helplessness often attribute their failures or negative experiences to internal, stable, and uncontrollable causes, leading to a sense of powerlessness and a lack of motivation to try to change their circumstances.
3. Learned helplessness can have a significant impact on an individual's motivation, as they may become less likely to initiate or persist in goal-directed behavior, even in situations where they have the ability to succeed.
4. Exposure to uncontrollable or unavoidable negative experiences can also lead to the development of depressive symptoms and other mood disorders, as individuals may feel trapped and hopeless about their ability to improve their situation.
5. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other interventions that focus on changing the individual's attributions and beliefs about their ability to control their environment can be effective in helping to overcome learned helplessness.

Review Questions

• Explain how learned helplessness relates to the concept of motivation and its impact on an individual's behavior.
  • Learned helplessness is closely tied to motivation because it can lead individuals to develop a belief that they have no control over the outcomes of their actions, even in situations where they have the ability to succeed. This belief can result in a lack of motivation to initiate or persist in goal-directed behavior, as the individual may feel that their efforts will be futile. The reduced motivation associated with learned helplessness can have a significant impact on an individual's ability to achieve their goals and can contribute to a sense of powerlessness and resignation.
• Describe how learned helplessness is related to different learning approaches and its implications for an individual's ability to acquire new skills or knowledge.
  • Learned helplessness can influence an individual's learning approaches by undermining their belief in their ability to learn and grow. When an individual develops a sense of learned helplessness, they may become less likely to engage in active, self-directed learning, as they may feel that their efforts will be futile. This can lead to a more passive, dependent learning style, where the individual relies on external sources of guidance and support rather than taking an active role in their own learning. Additionally, learned helplessness can make it more difficult for individuals to generalize their learning to new situations, as they may have a limited belief in their ability to apply their knowledge and skills in different contexts.
• Analyze the relationship between learned helplessness, the regulation of stress, and the development of mood and related disorders, such as depression.
  • Learned helplessness is closely linked to the regulation of stress and the development of mood disorders, such as depression. When individuals experience repeated exposure to uncontrollable or unavoidable negative experiences, they may develop a sense of learned helplessness, which can lead to a heightened stress response and a decreased ability to effectively cope with stressful situations. This, in turn, can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms, as the individual may feel trapped and hopeless about their ability to improve their circumstances. Additionally, the cognitive and behavioral patterns associated with learned helplessness, such as attributing failures to internal, stable, and uncontrollable causes, can further exacerbate mood disorders by reinforcing negative thought patterns and limiting the individual's ability to engage in adaptive coping strategies.

Related terms

Attribution Theory: A theory that explains how individuals interpret the causes of their own and others' behaviors, which can influence their subsequent actions and beliefs.

Locus of Control: The extent to which individuals believe they have control over the events that affect their lives, either through internal or external factors.

Coping Strategies: The cognitive and behavioral efforts individuals use to manage the internal and external demands of stressful situations.