Why we stop trying when things get tough
Learned helplessness occurs when repeated uncontrollable stress makes people or animals believe they are powerless, causing them to give up even when solutions become available.
Imagine giving up even when escape is possible. That's learned helplessness, a state where repeated uncontrollable stress convinces individuals they have no control, leading them to stop trying. Psychologist Martin Seligman first observed this in the 1960s with dogs that, after inescapable shocks, passively endured similar shocks even when escape was an option.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz