Learned Helplessness
- the expectation that no matter what behaviour is shown, it will either not result in a desired outcome or will not allow escape or avoidance of an undesired outcome. In other words, an individual believes that events and outcomes in the world are uncontrollable.
- The individual perceives a behaviour-coutcome noncontingency, this is opposite to perception of mastery, which emerges when an individual perceives a strong behaviour-outcome contingency
- Individuals who have a pessimistic attributional style and attribute bad outcomes to stable and uncontrollable causes are more likely to develop pervasive learned helplessness
Consequences
- a decrease in behaviour related to trying to achieve positive outcomes
- decrease in motivation
- difficulties in learning new responses
- cognitive and decision making deficits
- negative emotional reactions (especially depression)
- negative physical reactions, such as tiredness; and in extreme cases, suppression of immune system