Effects of experimentally induced expectancies of external control: An investigation of learned helplessness.

1 February 1974

journal article
Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Vol. 29 (2) , 253-264
https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036022

Abstract

Used the learned helplessness paradigm to assess the effects of experimentally induced expectancies of external control in 28 undergraduates. Expectancies of external control were induced by the administration of random reinforcement for performance on concept learning tasks. Contrary to expectation, "helpless" Ss initiated more controlling behavior over an aversive event in a subsequent problem-solving situation than control Ss. The existence of a curvilinear relationship between experiences producing external expectancies and behavioral manifestations of helplessness is offered as an explanation for the results, and a discussion of variables influencing this relationship is presented. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

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