Learned Helplessness

DEVELOPERS

Seligman Martin and Maier Steve (1967)

BACKGROUND

Learned helplessness was originally observed in dogs that were exposed to unavoidable inescapable shock. The scientists later tested the same with a shuttlebox where the dogs had the chance to escape the situation. Approximately two-third of the dogs displayed learned helplessness by becoming passive in the situation and not using the escape door of the shuttlebox.

The first experiment with humans was done by Hiroto (1974) where they were exposed to loud inescapable noise followed by testing on an instrumental task. Since then helplessness in humans have been associated with cognitive tasks with the first experiment being individuals exposed to unsolvable problem tasks. Finally, according to Seligman (1975) learned helplessness produces motivational, cognitive and emotional disturbances when an individual is later exposed to a situation where he can exert control. It can be defined as experiencing uncontrollable events leading to expectations of future lack of control. It is characterized by decreased motivation, failure to learn and negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety and frustration.

In the 1980s major research on learned helplessness started focusing on learned helplessness in children, in academic achievement tasks, and in schools. It was in 1990s when there was advancement in this field of research with a step forward in researching. The research started focusing on the other side of the coin i.e. on learned optimism, helplessness versus hope, learned efficacy.

This focus of research was continued in the 2000 on how to handle helplessness as well as this phenomenon was studied by various fields such as sports and exercise, marriage and family therapy, and other psychological fields. Since then, research related to learned helplessness continued to focus on overcoming this phenomenon.

The current focus of study is in the business world, with more real world problem situations and how they can be solved. The fact that this scientific field has advanced so much is an excellent example of scientific development and advancements in science.

In sum, the aim of the search was to see the trend and development in researches done in the area of learned helplessness.

REFERENCES ~ Coding Spreadsheet - Web View

• Seligman, M.E. & Maier, S.F. (1967). Failure to Escape Traumatic Shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74, 1–9
• Seligman, M.E. (1975). Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman.
• Butkowsky, I. S. & Willows D. M. (1980). Cognitive-Motivational Characteristics of Children Varying in Reading Ability: Evidence for Learned Helplessness in Poor Readers. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72 (3), 408-422
• Fincham, F. D. & Cain, K. M. (1986). Learned Helplessness in Humans: A Developmental Analysis. Developmental Review 6(4), 301-333
• Stipek, D. J. & Kowalski, P. S. (1989). Learned Helplessness in Task-Orienting Versus Performance-Orienting Testing Conditions. Journal of Educational Psychology 81(3), 384-391
• Deuser, W. E. & Anderson, C. A. (1995) Controllability Attributions and Learned Helplessness: Some Methodological and Conceptual Problems. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 16(3), 297-318
• Minor, T. R. & Hunter, D. A. (2002). Stressor controllability and learned helplessness Research in the united states: Sensitization and fatigue processes. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, 37(1), 44 -58
• Folkman, D. V. (2003). From Learned Helplessness to Learned Efficacy: An Action Science Approach to Continuing Professional Education for Comprehensive School Reform. Presented at the Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, and Community Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Dalla, C., Edgecomb, C., Whetstone, A. S. & Shors, T. J. (2007). Females do not Express Learned Helplessness like Males do. Neuropsychopharmacology, 1–11
• Margolis, J. D. & Stoltz, P. G. (2010). Here’s a way to understand-and redirect- your instinctive reaction to crises in How to Bounce Back from Adversity, Harvard business Review, 88(1), 87-92