Compare and contrast Seligman’s concepts of learned helplessness and learned optimism. Has Kiara learned to be helpless or optimistic? Malik? Explain.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Seligman’s concept of learned helplessness suggests a perception of a lack of control over one’s environment, whereas learned optimism implies a sense of control over the environment. A sense of control seems to result in greater happiness, for example, an increased sense of control in nursing home patients resulted in them becoming more physically active and more social than those who had a lower perception of control. It was also associated with a lower death rate. Generally, a sense of control results in efforts to control one’s environment and a sense of no control results in one not trying to control or influence the environment even when it can be controlled or influenced.

Kiara seems to have learned to be optimistic. Her sister describes her as cheerful and she seems to feel that she has control over her health, e.g. she exercises, does not smoke, eats right, and goes for regular medical examinations in an effort to avoid obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Malik seems to have learned helplessness as evidenced by his reaction to Kiara’s illness. He thinks she is going to dies from cancer and that he can do nothing to prevent it.