Learned Helplessness: A Theory for the Age of Personal Control

By Christopher Peterson, Martin E.P. Seligman, Steven F. Maier

Book Overview

When experience with uncontrollable events gives rise to the expectation that future events will also elude control, disruptions in motivation, emotion, and learning may ensue. The theory of learned helplessness refers to the problems that follow in the wake of uncontrollability. First described in the 1960s to account for behavior changes in laboratory animals, learned helplessness over the years has been applied to a variety of human problems entailing inappropriate passivity to demoralization. The best-known application of learned helplessness has been as an explanation of depression, although numerous other extensions have been made, most recently to physical illness and death. At the same time, basic studies with both people and animals have continued, mapping out the cognitive and biological aspects of learned-helplessness theory and research. Written by pioneers of the model, this book summarizes and integrates the theory, research efforts, and applications of learned helplessness. Each line of work is evaluated critically in terms of what is known and what is not known. Future directions are sketched as well. More generally, the present book argues that a theory which emphasizes personal control is of particular interest because individuality and control are such salient emphases in contemporary culture. That our current age of personal control creates casualties precisely because of these emphases is also discussed. This timely and valuable work will interest a broad spectrum of clinicians and researchers in psychology and social work.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195044665
• ISBN13: 9780195044669
• Release Date: July 1993
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 376 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

If you feel like a rat in a cage - READ THIS!

My Psychologist suggested I read this book. I was going through a divorce that was not by my choice and feeling trapped, manipulated and depressed. Honestly, I didn't finish reading the whole book. It was too technical for me to stay interested through the last chapters. The several chapters I did read convinced me that I was not trapped by my circumstances and unlike the tested subjects, I was not helpless. It revolutionized my attitide and helped turn my depression around. I have subsequently, bought two other books by the author, "Authentic Happiness" and "Learned Optimism" and give them two enthusiastic thumbs up! Life changing!

A fascinating read for students of psychology

I enjoyed this book but I have to admit to a prejudice. I am a huge fan of Seligman's books and grab everything I can get my hands on. This book is well argued and provides compelling evidence of the phenomenom of 'Learned Helpnessness' which can lead to depression, low motivation and poor workplace performance. The book discusses and interprets experimental research in the area of learned helplessness and translates this into the effects that it has on individual performance, health and social interaction. The book looks at locus of control and self-efficacy and how our feelings that events are occurring outside our control leave us feeling powerless. It's a great book for anyone making a study of psychology but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual self-help reader. The detail involved is probably excessive unless you are keen on reading all the background and understanding why and how learned helplessness occurs and how to manage or mitigate it.