Find an example of learned helplessness in the case. How does Seligman’s concepts of learned helplessness and learned optimism compare to Rotter’s concepts of external and internal locus of control?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Learned helplessness essentially means that people (and other animals) can learn to be helpless, i.e., they learn to believe that they cannot control or influence their environment even when, in actuality they can. Randall believes that he does not have much control over whether he graduates from high school or not, i.e., he has learned to be helpless in this situation.

Seligman’s concept of learned helplessness is similar to Rotter’s concept of external locus of control in that they both imply a belief in a lack of control. Similarly, Seligman’s concept of learned optimism is similar to Rotter’s concept of external locus of control in that they both imply a belief that one can control outcomes and the environment. Seligman suggests that his learned helplessness and learned optimism are different from Rotter’s external and internal locus of control, however, in that his explanatory style concepts are about judgments about causes of events and Rotter’s concept is about rewards and punishments.