Learned Helplessness

When someone experiences a bad situation repeatedly, they start to believe they have no control over what happens to them. This experience is called learned helplessness. Over time, they may stop trying because they expect failure or pain no matter what they do.

For example, a student who studies for hours on end may fail tests and eventually believe that they are just innately “stupid,” and stop studying for exams, even if it only indicates their initial study method did not work to retain information. 

This term was coined by psychologists Martin E. P. Seligman and Steven F. Maier in the 1960s. They developed the concept through experiments using animals, where dogs were trapped in a box and were shocked when trying to jump over an obstacle. After the shocking mechanism (both literal and figurative) was removed, and it was possible to escape, they did not try because they believed they could not complete the task. The idea was later applied to human behavior, in particular to depression.

Learned helplessness can help explain why some people just stop trying, even when change is very possible. We can start by recognizing that giving up may be because of a learned response from failure or stress, and keep trying. We also can respond with more compassion for others, while helping them to find ways to restore confidence and courage.