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<p><amp-youtube layout="responsive" width="1080" height="608" data-videoid="cW4iG66Enn4" title="What is Learned Helplessness? | Psychology"><a placeholder href="https://youtu.be/cW4iG66Enn4"><img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cW4iG66Enn4/hqdefault.jpg" layout="fill" object-fit="cover" alt="What is Learned Helplessness? | Psychology"></a></amp-youtube></p>
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<p><a href="https://youtu.be/cW4iG66Enn4">What Is Learned Helplessness?</a></p>
<p>Learned helplessness is a psychological condition where a person starts to believe that they have no control over their life or what happens to them. This belief usually develops after a person has gone through repeated difficult or painful situations where nothing they did seemed to make a difference. Over time, they stop trying to improve their situation, even when change is possible. They feel powerless, stuck, and hopeless, not because they truly are, but because they have learned to feel that way.</p>
<p>To understand learned helplessness, imagine a dog in a cage. If the dog gets a small shock and has no way to escape it, the dog will try to run or avoid it at first. But if the shock keeps coming no matter what the dog does, it will eventually give up. Later, if the cage door is opened and the dog could escape, it might not even try. The dog has learned that it is helpless, even when it is no longer trapped.</p>
<p>This idea came from an experiment by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the 1960s. They found that animals, and later humans, who experienced repeated failure or pain without any control over the situation, eventually stopped trying to help themselves. Even when they had the power to escape or change the situation, they acted as if they did not.</p>
<p>Now think about how this plays out in real life. A student who keeps failing exams, no matter how hard they try, may stop studying altogether. A person in an abusive relationship may stop trying to leave or seek help, believing nothing will ever change. Someone dealing with depression might feel like they will never be happy again and stop doing things that used to bring joy. In all these cases, the person may have real options and power, but they do not believe it anymore.</p>
<p>Learned helplessness affects the way people think, feel, and behave. Mentally, it creates negative thoughts like “I am not good enough,” “No one cares,” or “What is the point of trying?” Emotionally, it brings feelings of sadness, anxiety, low self-worth, and despair. Behaviorally, it leads to giving up, avoiding challenges, or staying in harmful situations. This pattern can seriously affect a person’s mental health, relationships, school or job performance, and overall quality of life.</p>
<p>One of the saddest parts of learned helplessness is that it can become a cycle. When someone believes they are helpless, they stop trying. When they stop trying, nothing changes. When nothing changes, it only proves to them that they were right to give up. The longer this goes on, the harder it becomes to break the cycle.</p>
<p>But there is hope. Just like helplessness can be learned, it can also be unlearned. One of the first steps is recognizing that you are stuck in this mindset. This is not always easy. People with learned helplessness often blame themselves for everything and may not realize that their sense of powerlessness is something they picked up from past experiences.</p>
<p>The next step is to challenge those beliefs. Ask yourself, “Is it really true that I cannot do anything?” Try to notice small things you can control, even if they seem minor. Success builds confidence. Even tiny wins like getting out of bed, going for a walk, or finishing a task can start to rebuild a sense of control.</p>
<p>Support from others also helps. Talking to a friend, counselor, or therapist can open the door to new ideas and encouragement. Sometimes we need someone outside of us to see what we cannot see ourselves. Therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, can help people recognize and change the thoughts that keep them feeling stuck. It teaches skills for problem-solving, managing emotions, and rebuilding confidence.</p>
<p>Creating a routine, setting achievable goals, and celebrating progress can also help. These actions send a message to your brain that you are not powerless. The more you act, the more you believe in your ability to act.</p>
<p>It is important to be kind and patient with yourself. If you have learned helplessness, it is not your fault. It means your brain was trying to protect you from pain by shutting down hope. That is a human response to suffering. But you are not broken. You have strength, even if you cannot feel it right now.</p>
<p>Learned helplessness does not only happen in personal lives. It can show up in schools, workplaces, and even entire communities. For example, children who are constantly criticized and never praised may stop trying to improve. Workers who are micromanaged and never trusted may stop taking initiative. Communities that face poverty, discrimination, or violence for generations may lose faith in change. These are real consequences, and they need compassion and attention.</p>
<p>We need to look at not just individuals, but also systems that teach people to feel powerless. When schools encourage children instead of just punishing them, when workplaces value input instead of just giving orders, when societies lift up voices instead of shutting them down, then people are more likely to believe in themselves and their ability to shape their lives.</p>
<p>Learned helplessness teaches us something very important: humans are deeply affected by what we believe about ourselves and the world. If we believe we are powerless, we act powerless. But if we can begin to believe in our power again, everything changes. That belief is where healing and hope begin.</p>
<p>So if you feel like you are stuck, if you have given up on something important, or if you have stopped believing in yourself, know that it is possible to feel differently. It takes time. It takes support. But you can start small. One choice, one action, one win at a time. The door is open. You are not helpless. You never were.</p>
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