What is learned helplessness?
Psychologists first described learned helplessness in 1967 after a series of experiments in animals, and they suggested that their findings could apply to humans.
In this article, we explore the state of learned helplessness and suggest some ways to overcome it.
What is it?
A person who experiences stressful or traumatic situations may develop learned helplessness.
According to the American Psychological Association, learned helplessness occurs when someone repeatedly faces uncontrollable, stressful situations, then does not exercise control when it becomes available.
They have "learned" that they are helpless in that situation and no longer try to change it, even when change is possible.
Once a person having this experience discovers that they cannot control events around them, they lose motivation. Even if an opportunity arises that allows the person to alter their circumstances, they do not take action.
Individuals experiencing learned helplessness are often less able to make decisions.
Learned helplessness can increase a person's risk of depression.
Prof. Martin Seligman, one of the psychologists credited with defining learned helplessness, has detailed three key features:
- becoming passive in the face of trauma
- difficulty learning that responses can control trauma
- can increase in stress levels
Background to the theory
In 1967, Prof. Seligman and Prof. Steven F. Maier first described their theory of learned helplessness.
The researchers conducted studies on dogs, in which they exposed the animals to a series of electric shocks.
The dogs that could not control the shocks eventually showed signs of depression and anxiety. Those that could press a lever to stop the shocks did not.
In follow-up research, the dogs that could not control the shocks in the first experiment did not even try to avoid the shocks, despite the fact that they could have done so by jumping over a barrier. They had learned to become helpless.
Many years later, however, Prof. Maier conducted neuroscientific research that suggested that the dogs did not, in fact, learn helplessness — instead, they had not learned control.
Learned helplessness in adults
In adults, learned helplessness presents as a person not using or learning adaptive responses to difficult situations.
People in this state typically accept that bad things will happen and that they have little control over them. They are unsuccessful in resolving issues even when there is a potential solution.
Below are some examples of situations that can lead to learned helplessness in adults:
- Continuing to smoke despite several attempts to quit may cause a person to believe that they will always be a smoker.
- Being unable to lose weight after making various dietary or lifestyle changes may cause a person to believe that it will never happen and give up trying.
- Leaving a situation of domestic abuse can be very difficult. Women having this experience tend to leave several times before doing so for good. A person may believe that they can never escape the abuser, even when help and support are available.
Learned helplessness in children
A child with learned helplessness may exhibit a lack of motivation and low expectation of success.
Often, learned helplessness begins in childhood.
When caregivers do not respond appropriately to a child's need for help, the child may learn that they cannot change their situation. If this occurs regularly, the state of learned helplessness may persist into adulthood.
Children with a history of prolonged abuse and neglect, for example, can develop learned helplessness and feelings of powerlessness.
Some characteristics of learned helplessness in children include:
- low self-esteem
- low motivation
- low expectations of success
- less persistence
- not asking for help
- ascribing a lack of success to a lack of ability
- ascribing success to factors beyond their control, such as luck
In childhood, learned helplessness often presents at school. If a child studies hard in order to do well in their schoolwork, but ultimately does poorly, they may feel helpless and hopeless.
A 2004 study examined the effects of learned helplessness on test taking in students. Each child involved took one of two tests. The first began with very difficult questions and the other with easier questions.
Students who took the first test seemed to become frustrated, doubted their academic ability, and missed the easy questions. The authors suggest that learned helplessness affected their test scores. Those who took the second test did not experience these effects.
Children may avoid learned helplessness by building resilience. Among the many factors that can contribute to resilience are a positive attachment to caregivers, humor, and independence.
Why does learned helplessness affect some people and not others?
A person's experiences can increase their risk of developing learned helplessness.
It typically begins after experiencing repeated traumatic events, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.
However, not everyone who goes through these things will develop learned helplessness.
Explanatory styles also play a role in its development. An explanatory style is a person's way of explaining an event to themselves.
People with a pessimistic explanatory style — causing them to view negative events as being unavoidable and resulting from their own shortcomings — are more likely to experience learned helplessness. People with an optimistic explanatory style are less likely to do so.
Links with mental health conditions
Learned helplessness is linked with depression, PTSD, and other health problems.
Research indicates that it increases feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression in both humans and animals.
One study, for example, suggests that learned helplessness may increase the risk of PTSD and major depressive disorder in women who have lived with domestic violence for a long time.
How to overcome learned helplessness
CBT can help people to overcome unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
People with learned helplessness can overcome it.
The most common treatment is therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people overcome these types of challenges by changing how they think and act.
In therapy, people can:
- receive support and encouragement
- explore the origins of learned helplessness
- develop ways to decrease feelings of helplessness
- identify negative thoughts that contribute to learned helplessness
- identify behaviors that reinforce learned helplessness
- replace thoughts and behaviors with more positive and beneficial ones
- improve self-esteem
- work through challenging emotions
- address instances of abuse, neglect, and trauma
- set goals and tasks for themselves
Some research suggests that exercise can prevent learned helplessness in animals.
Though there is no research into this particular effect of exercise in humans, physical activity usually benefits mental health and can reduce or prevent anxiety, depression, stress, and other health problems.
Eating a healthful diet, meditating, and practicing mindfulness are other lifestyle changes that can boost a person's mental health and outlook.
The effects of learned helplessness can be extensive, impacting a person's mental health, relationships, and other aspects of life.
It also increases the risk of stress, depression, and low self-esteem.
Certain factors, such as a history of abuse and a pessimistic outlook, can make a person more prone to learned helplessness.
However, it is possible to overcome it with therapy and lifestyle changes.
Anyone who believes that they are experiencing learned helplessness should consider speaking with a mental health professional who can help them take control of their circumstances.