Difference between revisions of "Learned helplessness"
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'''Learned helplessness''' is an important theory of [[psychology]] discovered by Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman. He set up an experiment with dogs who had been trained to expect a shock after hearing a tone (see [[Classical conditioning]]). Those dogs were placed in room where part of the floor was electrified and part was not. The dogs which had been conditioned to expect the shock made no effort to escape the shock even if it meant little effort. When subjected to adverse conditions for long enough an animal, or a human, stops fighting the conditions and just learns to live with them and will not try to overcome them because of the appearance of futility.[http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/learned_helplessness.html] | '''Learned helplessness''' is an important theory of [[psychology]] discovered by Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman. He set up an experiment with dogs who had been trained to expect a shock after hearing a tone (see [[Classical conditioning]]). Those dogs were placed in room where part of the floor was electrified and part was not. The dogs which had been conditioned to expect the shock made no effort to escape the shock even if it meant little effort. When subjected to adverse conditions for long enough an animal, or a human, stops fighting the conditions and just learns to live with them and will not try to overcome them because of the appearance of futility.[http://allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/learned_helplessness.html] | ||
| − | People who suffer from [[domestic violence]], [[bullying]], [[depression]], [[drug abuse]], and [[alcoholism]] often experience some level of learned helplessness. This may manifest in a feeling of | + | People who suffer from [[domestic violence]], [[bullying]], [[depression]], [[drug abuse]], and [[alcoholism]] often experience some level of learned helplessness. This may manifest in a feeling of worthlessness, guilt, [[embarrassment]], [[powerlessness]], and [[shame]]. |
* "This theory, backed up by years of research, is that a great deal of [[depression]] grows out of a feeling of [[helplessness]]: the feeling that you cannot control your environment." [http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html] | * "This theory, backed up by years of research, is that a great deal of [[depression]] grows out of a feeling of [[helplessness]]: the feeling that you cannot control your environment." [http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000057.html] | ||
Revision as of 07:55, February 11, 2024
Learned helplessness is an important theory of psychology discovered by Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman. He set up an experiment with dogs who had been trained to expect a shock after hearing a tone (see Classical conditioning). Those dogs were placed in room where part of the floor was electrified and part was not. The dogs which had been conditioned to expect the shock made no effort to escape the shock even if it meant little effort. When subjected to adverse conditions for long enough an animal, or a human, stops fighting the conditions and just learns to live with them and will not try to overcome them because of the appearance of futility.[1]
People who suffer from domestic violence, bullying, depression, drug abuse, and alcoholism often experience some level of learned helplessness. This may manifest in a feeling of worthlessness, guilt, embarrassment, powerlessness, and shame.
- "This theory, backed up by years of research, is that a great deal of depression grows out of a feeling of helplessness: the feeling that you cannot control your environment." [2]
Book
- Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin Seligman. Free Press; Reissue edition (March 1, 1998)