What is learned helplessness?

Learned helplessness is a psychological condition that occurs when an individual is repeatedly exposed to negative and uncontrollable situations or aversive stimuli, leading to a feeling of powerlessness and a belief that they have no control over the events in their lives. This condition can result from situations where an individual learns that they cannot change their circumstances, even when opportunities for change may present themselves later.

The concept is rooted in research by psychologists who observed that animals subjected to unpleasant stimuli without the ability to escape began to exhibit a passive resignation. This passivity can extend to humans, manifesting as a lack of motivation or a belief that their actions will not influence outcomes, which can lead to depression and a diminished ability to respond to challenges.

The other options focus on aspects unrelated to learned helplessness. For example, empowerment from consistent reinforcement deals with positive experiences rather than the negative exposure that causes learned helplessness. Social learning observation encourages learning through observing others, which is still an active engagement with the environment, unlike the withdrawal seen in learned helplessness. Techniques aimed at enhancing cognitive development do not align with the feelings of powerlessness but rather focus on improving skills and abilities, counteracting the very essence of learned helplessness.