Learned helplessness theory is a psychological theory that explains how repeated exposure to uncontrollable, adverse events leads to a state of apathy and lack of initiative in individuals. The theory was developed by Martin Seligman and his colleagues in the 1960s and has since been applied to various fields of psychology, including clinical, educational, and organizational psychology.
The theory of learned helplessness posits that when people experience a lack of control over a situation, they may develop a sense of helplessness and become passive. This may occur even when a person has the ability to change the situation, but they do not believe they have the power to do so. Learned helplessness has been studied in humans and animals, and the findings have contributed to our understanding of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.
The origins of the theory can be traced back to experiments conducted by Seligman and his colleagues on dogs in the late 1960s. In one of the experiments, dogs were placed in a cage and given a series of electric shocks that were either predictable or unpredictable. The dogs that received predictable shocks quickly learned to jump over a barrier to avoid them. However, the dogs that received unpredictable shocks did not learn to avoid them, even when given the opportunity to do so. Instead, they became passive and exhibited symptoms of depression.
Seligman and his colleagues concluded that the dogs that received unpredictable shocks had learned that their behavior did not affect the outcome of the situation, leading them to develop a sense of helplessness. This sense of helplessness became generalized to other situations, resulting in a lack of initiative and motivation.
The theory of learned helplessness has since been extended to humans, with similar results. For example, in one study, participants were given a series of unsolvable puzzles, and then given a solvable puzzle. Those who had experienced the unsolvable puzzles first were less likely to attempt to solve the solvable puzzle, even though they had the ability to do so. This suggests that learned helplessness can generalize to new situations, even if they are different from the original situation.
The theory of learned helplessness has also been used to explain the development of depression. According to the theory, individuals who experience uncontrollable negative events may develop a sense of helplessness, which can lead to depressive symptoms. This is supported by research showing that individuals who experience a high level of stress and lack of control are more likely to develop depression.
In addition, the theory of learned helplessness has been applied to the field of education. For example, some researchers have suggested that students who are repeatedly exposed to failure may develop a sense of helplessness and become disengaged from learning. This can result in poor academic performance and a lack of motivation.
The theory of learned helplessness has also been used to explain the behavior of individuals in organizations. For example, employees who are repeatedly exposed to negative feedback or who feel that their efforts are not being recognized may become passive and disengaged from their work. This can result in reduced productivity and job satisfaction.
Despite the importance of the theory of learned helplessness, there have been some criticisms of the theory. One criticism is that the theory is overly deterministic, as it suggests that individuals are passive and lack agency. However, some researchers have argued that individuals may be able to overcome learned helplessness by developing a sense of control over their environment.
Another criticism of the theory is that it does not take into account individual differences, such as personality traits and cognitive processes. For example, some individuals may be more resilient than others and may be less likely to develop a sense of helplessness in the face of adversity.
Despite these criticisms, the theory of learned helplessness remains an important framework for understanding the effects of uncontrollable negative events on individuals and their behavior.