Define learned helplessness. Find examples of learned helplessness in the case and explain how the behavior fits the definition of the concept.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Quite literally, learned helplessness is a matter of a person (or animal) learning to be helpless. The person (or animal) comes to believe that a situation or an outcome is unchangeable or inescapable, even if it can be controlled in actuality. When Darren encounters some type of hardship, he minimally tries to overcome it but once he has failed to do so, he gives up trying and begins to believe that he cannot control it. This giving up and this belief that he has no control over the obstacle is learned helplessness. Darren displays multiple examples of learned helplessness. This is shown in the first part of the case when Darren loses his job, initially tries to find another one, but is unsuccessful, and then starts to believe that he will never be able to find another job. This is also seen as Darren attempts to lose weight but when he does not, he comes to believe that he will never be able to lose the “freshman fifteen.” Finally, learned helplessness is depicted as Darren comes to believe that he will never be able to pull his pre-calculus grade up from a C to a higher grade. He believes that his behavior has no effect on event outcomes.