Learned Helplessness: A Dangerous Descent

One of the most common mistakes we make is to have negative opinions about our abilities. For example, let’s take a student struggling in math. Despite putting in extra hours and going for after school tutoring, his grades improve but not significantly. He makes the assumption that he is naturally bad at math. Now, there is a new math tutor that the entire town is talking about that makes concepts so understandable. Will this boy enroll? Science says, he most likely won’t. In addition, once he’s made the first assumption, he will not do homework nor be motivated to study for tests. This is a classic example of Learned Helplessness, a psychological state in which individuals believe they have no control over a situation or do not possess the ability to change, even when those opportunities knock at their door. It was first found by Psychologist Martin Seligman in the 1960s, when dogs, which were subjected to unavoidable electric shocks, refused to escape despite having a chance to escape. This concept highlights how prolonged exposure to negative experiences can alter a person’s behavior and beliefs. Understanding this in real-life contexts allows close members and counselors to motivate individuals from their negative outlook on their abilities to help them succeed in their endeavors.