Learned helplessness is a state in which, having the opportunity to leave an environment with unfavorable conditions, an individual does not show activity, does not seek to avoid negative influences and remains in a hostile environment, resigned to it.
Learned helplessness is a state in which, having the opportunity to leave an environment with unfavorable conditions, an individual does not show activity, does not seek to avoid negative influences and remains in a hostile environment, resigned to it.
In humans, the condition is triggered by the following phenomena:
- feeling out of control;
- feeling of loss of freedom;
- depression;
- depressive conditions;
- lack of faith in oneself;
- lack of faith that the situation can change;
- acceleration of death.
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The first information about learned helplessness
The first data on the phenomenon was recorded in 1964 by the American psychologist Martin Seligman during a series of experimental studies with dogs. The aim of the researcher was, based on the scheme of classical conditioning of I. P. Pavlov, to create in animals a conditioned fear reflex to sound signals. During the experiment, the dogs in the locked cage first heard a sound and then received a noticeable electric shock.
After performing several experiments, the researchers discovered the cells. It was assumed that, hearing the sound predicting painful sensations again, the subjects would scatter. However, animals free in action did not try to leave the hostile environment, but, whining, lay down in anticipation of a blow. The subjects' behavior spoke of their fears.
Based on the results of the experiment, Seligman suggested that this behavior of dogs was the result of several unsuccessful attempts to leave the cage while it was still closed. Animals are used to being helpless.
Another experiment on dogs
In 1967, Martin Seligman conducted a special experiment to test his theory. Dogs were also selected as subjects, and a stress shock as reinforcement of fear. The experiment involved three groups of animals.
- The first group of dogs was allowed to turn off the electrical shock-inducing system. To do this, it was necessary to touch the special panel with the nose. This gave the subjects control over the situation.
- The animals of the second group did not have the opportunity to change anything; they turned out to be completely dependent on the dogs of the first group. The subject in the second group did not receive a blow only if the power supply of the system was turned off by the animal from the first group.
- No electric current was applied to the third control group.
After some time, the first two groups received blows that were identical in strength and duration. The only difference was that during the experiment, animals from the second group could make sure of their helplessness and inability to influence what was happening.
At the final stage of the research, all animals participating in the experiments were placed in a common box. To avoid negative influence, the dogs only needed to jump over an easily overcome partition. Subjects from the first and third groups left the unfavorable environment without problems. And the animals, previously in a state of complete helplessness (second group), rushed around the box, lay down and withstood more and more powerful blows.
In the course of his work, Martin Seligman came to the conclusion that the state of helplessness is caused not by the troubles themselves, but by the individual's habituation to the fact that his activity does not change anything and it is impossible to influence the occurrence of negative factors. Also, the scientist found that clinical depression is closely related to the syndrome of learned helplessness.
In 1976, the author of the experiments was awarded the American Psychological Association.
Details of Martin Seligman's research have been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Experiments on humans
In humans, a similar experiment was performed by the American psychologist Donald Hiroto in 1974. In the course of the work, the participants in the experiment were divided into 3 groups, which found themselves in different conditions associated with an unpleasant sound.
The first and second groups were placed in separate rooms with a repulsive sound. The first group was given the opportunity to turn it off, while the second group did not. The third group was a control group and was not influenced by sound.
When all the participants in the experiment were transferred to a room where anyone could eliminate the annoying sound signal, the representatives of the first group turned it off immediately, and the participants from the second group did not even try to do this, as they were in a state of learned helplessness. (Donald S. Hiroto and Martin EP Seligman (1975)
Nursing home experiment, 1976
Psychologist Ellen Jane Langer and her colleague Judith Roden have been studying how feelings of helplessness affect a person's emotional and physical health. Clients of the Arden House for the elderly were selected as subjects.
The experiment involved two groups of elderly people:
- The experimental group consisted of residents of the fourth floor of the building, 47 people.
- The control group consisted of residents of the second floor of the building, 44 people.
During the research, 2 types of experimental conditions were created:
- The inhabitants of the fourth floor received instructions, according to which they were assigned additional responsibility for their lives, for choosing conditions of detention, for performing their actions. As a gift, retirees could choose a plant they liked (from a common box), which they could take care of as they saw fit. The subjects were also asked to decide if they wanted to watch a movie and on what day they would like to do it. The instruction made it possible to choose and control the situation.
- The inhabitants of the second floor were assured that the staff of the institution would take care of the condition of their rooms. The home workers have taken full responsibility for making the living conditions for the elderly as good as possible. According to the instructions, the wards could fully rely on the help of the staff. Each participant in the experiment was presented with a gift - a flower. The care of the plant was also entrusted to medical workers. In general, the conditions of stay remained the same as before - everything was controlled by the leadership of the institution.
After 3 weeks, the residents of the house received questionnaires that revealed how satisfied the subjects were with their lives. The staff were interviewed about the general activity, communication skills, nutrition of the patients, about changes in their habits and health status.
It was also found out which of the elderly expressed a desire to watch a movie and agreed to compete in guessing the number of candies in the jar.
Outcomes:
Average scores of residents of the second floor (control group):
- Happiness level: -0.12
- Patient change: -2.39
- Passive personnel monitoring: +4.64
Average ratings of residents of the fourth floor (experimental group):
- Happiness level: +0.28
- Change in patient condition: +3.97
- Passive Personnel Monitoring: -2.14
Six months later, another survey was conducted at the Arden House retirement home. It turned out that the members of the experimental group still feel much better. The overall average score for their condition was 352.33. The score for the second group was 262.00. It also became known that among the members of the experimental group mortality is lower (15% versus 30% in the control group).
The results of the research motivated the administration of the institution to revise the usual organization of care for the elderly. Patients were given more opportunity to take part in organizing their lives.