What is learned helplessness?

Learned helplessness refers to a psychological condition that occurs when an individual experiences repeated exposure to aversive stimuli without any ability to escape or avoid the situation. Over time, this can lead the person to develop a belief that they are incapable of changing their circumstances, even when opportunities for change may arise. This mindset stems from the feeling of powerlessness and a lack of control, which can negatively impact motivation, emotional well-being, and overall behavior.

In this way, learned helplessness illustrates how an individual can become conditioned to accept failure and avoid taking future actions that could lead to success. This aligns with the concept of classical conditioning, where an individual learns to associate certain situations with negative outcomes, ultimately leading to a diminished sense of agency and self-efficacy. The other choices do not accurately capture this phenomenon and its implications on behavior and motivation.