learned helplessness Flashcards
learned helplessness activity in class
group 1 asked to unscramble anagrams, group 2 would see unsolvable anagrams
- both groups exposed to final anagram (more difficult)
results: group 1 was able to figure it out faster than group 2 because they had learned helplessness instilled
what is learned helplessness
a state of amotivation, passivity, and expectations of helplessness resulting from repeated lack of control
- extreme opposite of internal LoC
- learned as a result of experiences
explain Seligman’s experiment with dogs and learned helplessness IV’s
had dogs in lab and randomly assigned them to one of three conditions
1) escapable shock condition: dogs went through training, exposed to shocks and learned they could escape from shocks (in cage, had control)
2) shock condition: dogs were exposed to shocks, but could not escape (no control)
3) control condition: no pre-training or shocks
what is yoking and why was it used in Seligman’s learned helplessness experiment
a treatment that participants receive in one group depends on how participants in another group behave
-dogs in shock condition were yoked to dogs in escape condition, so whatever happened to dog in escape condition happened to dog in shock condition (so if an escape dog had a few shocks before they learned to escape, this also happened to shock condition)
did this so dogs in both conditions would receive same number, timing and intensity of shocks (isolating IV of controlling shocks)
what happened after the training part of Seligman’s learned helplessness experiment
after training, 24 hours later dogs took part in the testing phase of study
-dogs put in new cage (shuttlebox) with two compartments, the light would dim which indicated shocks, one compartment gave shock and the other did not
what is the DV in Seligman’s learned helplessness experiment
what will dog do? will it stay on side and receive shock or will it shuttle to side with no shock
-did they try to escape shock?
results of Seligman’s learned helplessness experiment
all of the dogs escape condition learned they could escape shock in test
in the inescapable shock condition, 75% of dogs did not escape the shock in test (learned helplessness)
-even when they can avoid punishment, they do not because of what they learned from previous experiences
in the control condition 12.5% were unable to escape shocks
explain the results that were shocking to experimenters in Seligman’s learned helplessness experiment
25% of dogs in learned helplessness condition never stopped trying and 12.5% in control condition were unable to escape
-perhaps previous experiences changed expectations in some dogs and thats why the numbers were not as clear cut
explain general research in learned helplessness in humans
- did not use shocks but other negative outcomes (ex. noxious noise blast)
- find replications of findings in dog study
what are the three components of learned helplessness in humans
1) disconnect between actions and outcomes (no control)
2) expectation that actions will be ineffective in the future
3) recognition that actions are fruitless - giving up
what can the model of learned helplessness lead to
hopelessness model of depression
what is the hopelessness model of depression
chronic feelings of learned helplessness overtime can lead to depression, this depression is marked by existence of hopelessness
-like other depressions, it can cause changes in motivation, cognitions, emotions, self-esteem and self-efficacy
does helplessness always result in hopelessness
it is possible to feel helpless without feeling hopeless
- not necessarily the same thing, helplessness does not always lead to hopelessness because people can feel that their circumstances may change
- if people feel chronic helplessness and do not see circumstances changing: this leads to hopelessness
explain background information of the effects of feeling helpless in humans study
field experiment (done in people's natural living conditions) in nursing home -researchers interested in idea that elderly are at risk for feeling helpless (lose independence and functioning)
IV’s in the effects of feeling helpless in humans study
level of responsibility of people in nursing home (assigned by floor)
1) responsibility condition: given multiple ways to take responsibility (ex. decorate room, choose from activities, do things for yourself as much as you can, also given plant to take care of)
2) control condition: reassured everything would be taken care of for them (ex. do not worry about room, told what activities to do, given plant but told not to take care of it)
