Learned Helplessness: A Theory for the Age of Personal Control

by Martin E.P. Seligman, Steven F. Maier

When experience with uncontrollable events gives rise to the expectation that future events will also elude control, disruptions in motivation, emotion, and learning may ensue. The theory of learned helplessness refers to the problems that follow in the wake of uncontrollability. First
described in the 1960s to account for behavior changes in laboratory animals, learned helplessness over the years has been applied to a variety of human problems entailing inappropriate passivity to demoralization. The best-known application of learned helplessness has been as an explanation of
depression, although numerous other extensions have been made, most recently to physical illness and death. At the same time, basic studies with both people and animals have continued, mapping out the cognitive and biological aspects of learned-helplessness theory and research. Written by pioneers
of the model, this book summarizes and integrates the theory, research efforts, and applications of learned helplessness. Each line of work is evaluated critically in terms of what is known and what is not known. Future directions are sketched as well. More generally, the present book argues that
a theory which emphasizes personal control is of particular interest because individuality and control are such salient emphases in contemporary culture. That our current age of personal control creates casualties precisely because of these emphases is also discussed. This timely and valuable work
will interest a broad spectrum of clinicians and researchers in psychology and social work.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health

376 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 1993

About the author

Seligman is the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Psychology. He was previously the Director of the Clinical Training Program in the department. Seligman was elected President of the American Psychological Association by the widest margin in its history and served in that capacity during the 1998 term.[4] He is the founding editor-in-chief of Prevention and Treatment Magazine (the APA electronic journal), and is on the board of advisers of Parents.

Seligman has written about positive psychology topics such as The Optimistic Child, Child's Play, Learned Optimism, Authentic Happiness," and in 2011, "Flourish."

Reviews

[Ali]

شکست‌های متوالی باعث می‌شوند فرد امیدی به گرفتن نتیجه دلخواه‌ نداشته باشد و وزن بیشتری برای شانس/احتمالات در نرسیدن به هدف خود در نظر بگیرد و ناامیدی، اولین نتیجه‌ این مدل فکری می‌شود. فرض‌کنیم تا اینجا بدیهی باشد.

وقتی تضمینی برای شکست نخوردن نیست، چرا ناامیدی اینقدر وجه بدی دارد؟

[George Melhuish]

I should call her…