Learned Helplessness

Synonyms

None

Definition

Passive behaviors, negative cognitions, and depressed affect that is triggered by the experience of an uncontrollable, negative event and the attribution of a global, internal, or stable cause to the event (Abramson et al. 1978)

Introduction

The model of learned helplessness helps describe changes in behavior due to uncontrollable events (Abramson et al. 1978). In brief, learned helplessness was first studied by examining dogs’ responses to uncontrollable shocks. At first, dogs attempted to escape the shock (Overmier and Seligman 1967; Seligman and Maier 1967). However, following continued shocks and the inability to escape the shock, dogs laid passively when the shock was administered. Dogs who were in conditions with the ability to escape the shock by jumping into another chamber avoided the shock by doing so. When introduced into a new condition where shock was avoidable, the dogs from the first group still did not attempt to avoid the shock, evidencing learn...