Here is a a definition of Learned Helplessness:



LEARNED HELPLESSNESS



Learned helplessness works like this: If people and animals are exposed to repeated aversive/negative events that they cannot escape or avoid, they may learn to do nothing –simply sit or stand by helplessly and suffer the punishment.



A textbook definition of learned helplessness: The learned response of resigning oneself passively to aversive/negative conditions, rather than taking action to change, escape, or avoid them; learned through repeated exposure to inescapable or unavoidable events.



Richter’s Original “Sudden Death” Study and Learned Helplessness



The concept of learned helplessness has its roots in a series of studies conducted by Richter (1957) in which he tested the efforts rats would make to escape a tub of water. Richter knew that if a rat was held still long enough, it would die, as if “giving up” any effort to escape. To test related effects, he placed normal rats in a tub of warm water and recorded that they would swim for 6 minutes in an effort to stay alive and find a way out. Another group of rats, which he held in a gloved hand until they stopped struggling (just prior to death), would, after the experience, swim a few minutes and drown. A third group of rats who were freed from the gloved hand prior to giving up struggling would swim just as vigorously as the first group of rats did.



Overmeier and Seligman’s “Hot Dog” Study and Learned Helplessness



Overmeier and Seligman (1967) also conducted research on learned helplessness using dogs. These researchers strapped dogs into harnesses so they couldn’t escape, and then exposed them to electric shocks. Later, these same dogs were placed in a box with two compartments that were separated by a low barrier, which could easily be jumped over. One compartment had an electrified floor which would shock the dogs. However, a warning signal would always be presented before the floor becoming electrified. These dogs could easily learn to jump over the short barrier to the other compartment to avoid the shock before it ever occurred.



Because these dogs had earlier been exposed to inescapable shocks, they did not attempt to cross the barrier. They simply endured as many shocks as the researcher chose to deliver. These dogs suffered loss of appetite, were less active than normal, and suffered other symptoms resembling those of depression. Other dogs who had not been exposed to inescapable shocks earlier, quickly learned to jump the barrier when the signal was given prior to the floor becoming electrified.



While these experiments may seem cruel, there was a lot to learn about the effects of repeated exposure to aversive/negative events in which escape or avoidance is not possible.



Heres the link: http://www.hcc.cc.il.us/staff/nicks/handouts/101/learned_helplessness.htm




For a person that is suffering from this, ( and I know of many), what could be done to help them escape this mindset? :confused:

dunkirk that is really interesting and perhaps on a more emotional level, people who have been let down in relationships or when they have commited to something it has always failed they will now simply accept the failure as part of the course and not steer to avoid it.

This may sound retarded but im about to undergo some sort of hypnotherapy to get me to be able to commit to things and carry them out without fear of failure. (my vagueness is down to my dad being the one who has arranged it and me being very very very skeptical)

I really dont have faith in anything anymore and its a kind of like deflated "give a shit" attitude, you see the car but cant see any point in stepping out of the way sort of thing.

Ill tell ya how this goes though.

Intersting, yes. But i would be very cautious about applying to humans the result of an experiment made on animals.
Human psychology is rather complex !

Dunkirik, could you be more specific about the kind of problems encountered by people around you ?

I know of several women (three to be exact) that seem to have completely given up on life. Its like they have no faith in ever amounting to anything worthwhile and won't even try to apply themselves. These are all very attractive women that seem to have gone through some very tragic moments in their lives and seem to "submit" to whatever horrors fate sends their way. One of these women I know for a fact was a victim of a gang rape when she was in high school ( but she doesn't know that I am aware of it, so I never mentioned it to her). Her family blames her for it saying that she bought it on herself for dressing seductively and hanging out with all the wrong crowds. They have been telling her this for so long that she actually seems to believe it. This ( the rape and her family's lack of concern or support) seems to have had a drastic impact on her self esteem.

The second I'm sure was a victim of child abuse. She has (or had) a mother that always talked down to her by telling her things like:

You make me sick,

I hate your guts,

Everytime I see you you're begging for something,

Youre the reason I have all of these bills,

I can't have anything because of you,

You're the reason I can't find another man,

I wish you were never born...ect...ect

Her now deceased mother had been telling her this crap for so long that she seems to actually believe it, so because of this, almost anyone that blames her for any problems that they have, she tends to agree with them just to get them to "leave her alone".


The third one I know I believe comes from a family that spent their entire lives on welfare and never (and I mean NEVER) worked for anything that they have. As long as the gov't was paying for everything they needed through public aid and link cards, they never developed the motivation to try and pick themselves up. Now that the government did away with welfare and kicked them off, she "as a product of this family" seems to have simply given up on herself and won't even try to pick herself up. She has a seemingly abusive boyfriend that she now lives with who constantly calls her outside of her name (in public mind you), and she seems to just go along with whatever he says or does to her without putting up any kind of resistance whatsoever.

All three of these women all seem to be down or very sad all of the time and won't even try to seek help from anyone. :(

On the positive side - the dogs are no longer acutely stressed by their situation. I think that's the state many people are in. There's plenty of background stress, but we can't always put our finger on exactly why.

Great post, very interesting.

Before I say anything else I have to say animal testing of any kind, and for ANY reason is reprehensible, regardless of the resulting benefit to mankind.

Now back to the post: the thing that has to be done in order to change the mind set of people who suffer from learned helplessness is to place the individuals in situations which teach them empowerment.

They have been taught they are powerless, thus they now need to be reprogrammed to believe they are powerful.

Originally posted by Lokideviluk
This may sound retarded but im about to undergo some sort of hypnotherapy to get me to be able to commit to things and carry them out without fear of failure. (my vagueness is down to my dad being the one who has arranged it and me being very very very skeptical)

I really dont have faith in anything anymore and its a kind of like deflated "give a shit" attitude, you see the car but cant see any point in stepping out of the way sort of thing.

Ill tell ya how this goes though.

It does not sound retarded at all.

I was an under-achiever all through my teens. Under achieving is the result of a fear of failure. Once I realized that, it helped. Although it still causes problems even at my age, with awareness it becomes manageable.

One of the keys for me was lowering my goals and expectations and then just doing it in spite of the fear.

From what you have said here and there on the forum I would guess you are under-employed. Yes/no? That is a sure sign.

This is a problem which can be solved if you are open to it. It doesn't matter if you are skeptical or not, just try it.

Your dad sounds like a caring individual who has your best interests at heart.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

We only have control over one thing in our lives. That is How we respond tp our envoronment

Those who have given up responding and just accept their fate are professional victims. Those who have been victimized and will not even attempt to help themselfs get no sympathy from me.

And I wholeheartedly agree...animal testing of any kind, and for ANY reason is reprehensible, regardless of the resulting benefit to mankind.

I'm all for animal testing. Not for cosmetics and such - but if it can save a human life - let 1 million lab rats die.

I'm cool with people being 100% against animal testing. Just sign a contract promising that you'll never take prescription drugs or undergo any medical procedures.

The nazi's did medical experiments on people. We do them on animals. What makes you people think that animals don't feel the same pain we do? Anyone who has ever had a pet can tell you that animals have very distinct personalities and are individuals. So because they can't add and write we should experiment on their bodies? Linear thinking is easy. Compassion takes a bit more depth.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
I'm cool with people being 100% against animal testing. Just sign a contract promising that you'll never take prescription drugs or undergo any medical procedures.

Your post implies all prescription drugs and medical procedures were discovered or learned through animal testing. Not true. There are other ways to learn besides subjecting animals to agonizing tumors and the other despicable things we do to them in the name of science and health.

Maybe it would take a month or two longer or maybe it wouldn't.
Might cut into the profit picture a bit though...and we sure can't have that.

I'll take the animal testing subject to a new thread so as not to derail the original thread any further.

Originally posted by ~Sal~

They have been taught they are powerless, thus they now need to be reprogrammed to believe they are powerful.

How would one go about applying this? With one of these women I've tried everything from Consistent Positive Re-enforcement to Unconditional Positive Regard and so far nothing seems to have an effect on her. She still shows the same symptoms. I've even suggested that she seek professoinal help and she seems to have just given up on herself. :(

Originally posted by Dunkirk101
How would one go about applying this? With one of these women I've tried everything from Consistent Positive Re-enforcement to Unconditional Positive Regard and so far nothing seems to have an effect on her. She still shows the same symptoms. I've even suggested that she seek professoinal help and she seems to have just given up on herself. :(

Honestly Dunkirk, I don't think this is something that can be solved with positive reinforcement. Someone messed deeply with their psyche and now someone else with knowledge and wisdom and caring would have to go deep to help them to heal. It could take years.

It is a sad fact that there are many walking wounded in this world that will never really be healthy in their thinking because they just weren't given the chance. From day one, someone stole their chance.

On the positive side many others under the same conditions and circumstances choose a different reaction or way. At some point we as adults have to take responsibility for ourselves and seek the help that we need.

If someone were diagnosed with diabetes they would take the insulin...well if someone is mentally unbalanced they too have to take the path that can best help them.

If you are their friend, you can listen to them and guide their thinking if it is harmful. You can be a positive influence in their lives, someone they can count on. But only as long as it does not mess with your head. If she has given up on herself, there is not much you can do. Ultimately everything comes back to desire. She has to want to change her life.

Good luck...you sound like a great and caring friend.