Learned helplessness: Theory and evidence.

1 January 1976

journal article
Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

Vol. 105 (1) , 3-46
https://doi.org/10.1037//0096-3445.105.1.3

Abstract

Reviews the literature which examined the effects of exposing organisms to aversive events which they cannot control. Motivational, cognitive, and emotional effects of uncontrollability are examined. It is hypothesized that when events are uncontrollable the organism learns that its behavior and outcomes are independent, and this learning produces the motivational, cognitive, and emotional effects of uncontrollability. Research which supports this learned helplessness hypothesis is described along with alternative hypotheses which have been offered as explanations of the learned helplessness effect. The application of this hypothesis to rats and man is examined. (114 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

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