Question

What do you understand by acquired helplessness?

Hint:

Acquired helplessness arises from the belief that one has no control over their situation, leading to passivity and resignation.

Answer 1

Acquired helplessness refers to a psychological condition where an individual learns to feel powerless and unable to control their environment, even when they have the ability to influence it. This phenomenon typically arises after repeated exposure to uncontrollable events, where the person believes that no matter what they do, they cannot change or avoid negative outcomes.

Learning Helplessness: It is learned over time when an individual repeatedly faces situations where their actions do not have any effect on the outcomes, leading to a sense of powerlessness.
Consequences: Acquired helplessness can lead to emotional and behavioral problems, including depression, anxiety, and a lack of motivation.
Experimental Studies: The concept was first studied by Martin Seligman through experiments with dogs, showing that animals exposed to uncontrollable situations failed to escape even when they were later given the opportunity to do so.

Conclusion: Acquired helplessness demonstrates how past experiences with uncontrollable situations can shape one's future responses and perceptions, leading to a sense of powerlessness even when the conditions change.