What Is the Learned-Helplessness Effect? Describe Two Competing Explanations of the Effect

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The Answer is The learned-helplessness effect refers to a psychological phenomenon where individuals believe that they have no control over their situation, leading them to give up trying to improve their circumstances even when opportunities for change are present. This effect was first studied in the 1960s by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier, who observed this behavior in dogs that had been subjected to uncontrollable shocks and later showed signs of passivity and resignation in the face of new challenges.

Two competing explanations of the learned-helplessness effect are the cognitive and the motivational theories. The cognitive theory suggests that individuals develop a belief that they are unable to control their environment due to past experiences of failure, leading to a sense of helplessness. This belief then influences their behavior and leads to a lack of effort in trying to change their situation. On the other hand, the motivational theory proposes that the learned-helplessness effect is a result of a decrease in motivation to act, rather than a cognitive belief about lack of control. According to this theory, individuals become passive and resigned because they no longer see the value in trying to change their circumstances.

Both explanations offer valuable insights into the learned-helplessness effect, and researchers continue to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions to help individuals overcome this debilitating mindset.

What Is the Learned-Helplessness Effect? Describe Two Competing Explanations of the Effect

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