Overview & Description:

Learned helplessness refers to a condition where an individual becomes passive and gives up because they believe that their actions have no effect on the outcomes due to previous experiences of lack of control over a situation.

Example:

An employee who has been reprimanded despite their best efforts may stop trying to excel, thinking that no matter what they do, the outcome will be negative.

Implications:

The concept of learned helplessness can inform therapeutic and intervention strategies in psychology and education to empower individuals to overcome passive behaviors and foster proactive engagement.

References:

• Seligman, M. E. P. (1972). Learned helplessness. Annual Review of Medicine, 23, 407-412.