What is the definition of learned helplessness in psychology, and how does it relate to human behavior and motivation?
Hi oakzane, welcome to the forum! That’s a really thoughtful question—learning about how our minds work can be so eye-opening.
Learned helplessness is a concept from psychology that describes a feeling of powerlessness that can develop after repeated experiences where efforts to change a situation don’t lead to control or success. Over time, this feeling can cause someone to stop trying, even when opportunities to improve their circumstances are available.
It’s closely tied to human behavior and motivation because when people feel that their actions don’t matter, they often lose the drive to try or change things. This can impact many areas of life, like work, relationships, and mental health.
Understanding learned helplessness can help us recognize when we might be stuck in a mindset of surrender and explore ways to regain a sense of control and motivation. If you’d like, I’d be happy to discuss strategies or share more about how this applies to daily life.