LH: Chapter One

A small excerpt from chapter 1

" The Residue of Tauma: Learned Helpplessness"

Downloadable resources at the bottom of post.

The term “learned helplessness “was first coined by psychologist Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in 1967 after a series of experiments with animals. In there initial studies, they discovered a phenomenon which dogs, subjected to uncontrollable stress (they used electric shocks), eventually stopped trying to escape the discomfort. These dogs had learned that their actions-no matter what they did-would have no effect on the outcome. Over time, they became passive and resigned, even when they were later given the opportunity to escape. They have learned that nothing they did could alter their situation, so they stopped trying altogether. These studies have also been replicated with mice. While these discoveries were made in animals, Seligman and Maier quickly recognized that a similar phenomenon occurred in humans. This is no longer just about dogs being shocked (which is bad enough all on its own). It is about the universal nature of learned helplessness and how we, as humans, can become conditioned to give up when we feel that our efforts will always be fruitless.

The key to learned helplessness lies in the “perception “around the idea of control. When individuals or animals perceive that they have no control over a negative outcome, they eventually stop trying to exert effort, even in situations where change may be possible. This learned passivity can result in a cycle of failure and despair that deeply impacts mental health and behavior.

Three pillars of learned helplessness

To understand the full depth of the residue of trauma that creates learned helplessness, it is essential to examine the three psychological components that underpin this condition:

1. Contingency-(the relation between actions and the environmental response)-The belief that actions do not lead to desirable outcomes when individuals experience repeated failure/negative outcome despite their efforts. they come to perceive that there is no meaningful/positive relationship between their actions and the results. Individuals who experience repeated setbacks often begin to believe that their actions are futile. This causes them to stop trying in future situations. This leaves a subconscious imprint that action steps are painful and useless. Especially for men, it is primordially waste of energy and could cause a loss of resources/death.

2. Cognition- (mental action/process of acquiring knowledge and understanding) How individuals think about failure and control is subjective and deeply personal. Learned helplessness isn't simply about experiencing repeated failure but also about how we interpret failures. The subconscious imprint that the inability to succeed is due to an internal, stable, and global factor they can’t control create the slippery slop of learned helplessness. Examples of this sound like;” I am not good enough”, “this always happens to me”, “I can't do anything right”, and so on. This cognitive pattern, is called global attribution, leading to a pervasive sense of powerlessness that permeates all areas of life. If someone fails at work, they might believe they are a failure as a person, rather than recognizing that one setback does not define their entire identity or potential.

Hint! We can also use this global attribution mechanism to reprogram our brain and emotions in a positive direction also! Remember this important fact as I continue through the heavy stuff.