learned helplessness

learned helplessness
In psychology, a mental state in which a laboratory subject forced to bear aversive stimuli becomes unable or unwilling to avoid subsequent applications, even if they are "escapable," presumably through having learned that situational control is generally out of one's hands.

Experiments, first on dogs and later on humans, led some researchers, including Martin E.P. Seligman (b. 1942) in Helplessness (1975), to believe that chronic failure, depression, and similar conditions are forms of learned helplessness. Critics have argued that different conclusions can be drawn from such tests and that broad generalizations are unwarranted.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Learned helplessness — is a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to act or behave helpless in a particular situation, even when it has the power to change its unpleasant or even harmful circumstance. Learned helplessness theory is the …   Wikipedia

  • learned helplessness — noun (psychology) The eventual passive acceptance of consistent violence, failure, oppression, etc, resulting in the cessation of all voluntary activity • • • Main Entry: ↑learn …   Useful english dictionary

  • Learned Helplessness — Erlernte Hilflosigkeit bezeichnet das Phänomen, dass Menschen und Tiere in Folge von Erfahrungen der Hilf oder Machtlosigkeit ihr Verhaltensrepertoire dahingehend einengen, dass sie negative Zustände nicht mehr abstellen, obwohl sie es (von außen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • learned helplessness — A laboratory model of depression involving both classical (respondent) and instrumental (operant) conditioning techniques; application of unavoidable shock is followed by failure to cope in situations where coping might otherwise be possible …   Medical dictionary

  • learned helplessness — noun Psychiatry a condition characterized by a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed …   English new terms dictionary

  • выученная беспомощность (learned helplessness) — Категория. Особенность поведения, приобретаемая при систематическом негативном воздействии, избежать которого нельзя. Специфика. Характеризуется тем, что наступает торможение моторной активности, ослабляется биологическая мотивация, теряется… …   Большая психологическая энциклопедия

  • learned — learnedly, adv. learnedness, n. /lerr nid/ for 1 3; /lerrnd/ for 4, adj. 1. having much knowledge; scholarly; erudite: learned professors. 2. connected or involved with the pursuit of knowledge, esp. of a scholarly nature: a learned journal. 3.… …   Universalium

  • Выученная беспомощность (learned helplessness) — В. б. относят к феноменам из области реактивной депрессии и выполнения людьми разнообразных задач, несмотря на то, что первонач. этот феномен был зафиксирован в ходе исслед. на животных. Сам термин был введен в употребление Мартином Селигманом и… …   Психологическая энциклопедия

  • helplessness — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ complete, utter ▪ learned (esp. AmE) PHRASES ▪ a feeling of helplessness, a sense of helplessness ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • learned — adj. Learned is used with these nouns: ↑helplessness, ↑journal, ↑judge …   Collocations dictionary

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