Learned Helplessness Definition Learned helplessness refers to a phenomenon in which an animal or human experiences an uncontrollable, inescapable event and subsequently has difficulty obtaining desirable outcomes, even when it is easy to do so. The term is often used to explain why people may display passive, helpless behavior or feel powerless in situations that
Learned helplessness is a condition that is brought about by repeated exposure to negative stimuli. The result is that the individual learns that there are no options and no possibility for an escape from the negative stimuli. Helplessness exists when an individual’s actions have no perceived positive effect on outcomes. Learned helplessness is when an
Learned helplessness, a seminal concept in the field of psychology, emerged from Martin Seligman’s pioneering research in the mid-20th century. This phenomenon represents a state of psychological disempowerment resulting from a perceived lack of control over aversive events. This article offers an exploration of learned helplessness, spanning its historical development, underlying causes, and mechanisms, as
Learned helplessness is a behavior pattern involving a maladaptive response characterized by avoidance of challenges, negative affect, and the collapse of problem-solving strategies when obstacles arise. Three components are necessary for learned helplessness to be present: contingency, cognition, and behavior. Contingency is the idea that there is an identifiable relation between one’s actions and the
This article delves into the intricate relationship between learned helplessness and mental health, providing an exploration of its definition, theoretical underpinnings, and psychological mechanisms. Beginning with an introduction elucidating the significance of understanding learned helplessness in the context of mental health, the article progresses to explicate the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral facets of this phenomenon.