Abstract
The distinction between personal and universal helplessness in college students was investigated by employing the classical triadic learned helplessness design. In agreement with learned helplessness theory, the group exposed to noncontingency was found to manifest longer latencies on Levine task solution than contingent or control groups. Contrary to the reformulated model’s predictions, however, this deficit was observed only in the universal helplessness condition. No emotional deficits were revealed by the Adjective Checklist.
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This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant #BNS7820678 to R.A. Rosellini. We wish to thank Robin L. Lashley and Donna Salvietti for assistance in execution of this research.
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Kramer, M.E., Rosellini, R.A. Universal and Personal Helplessness: A Test of the Reformulated Model. Psychol Rec 32, 329–336 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394792
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394792