Learned helplessness was accidentally discovered by psychologist Martin Seligman and Steven Maier. Simply put, it dictates that animals and humans alike are prone to a phenomena where we will use negative reference experiences to justify to ourselves why we cannot accomplish something, and behave as if we are utterly helpless to change the situation. As a result of feeling helpless, we then do not even bother to acknowledge potential opportunities to overcome it.
This was first observed in dogs when they were subject to a mild electric shock. The experiment was conducted by placing a group of dogs in a harness for a period of time, and then releasing them. The second group was placed in harnesses, and subject to an electric shock, but they could stop the shock by pushing a button in front of them with their nose. The third group of dogs were placed in harnesses however had no control over the random timing of the shocks.
Following this, the dogs were then placed in a box where one half of it was electrified and a low barrier placed after it which the dogs could jump over in order to avoid the shock. Groups one and two simply jumped the barrier and were able to escape. Group three dogs however, made no attempt to do so. Due to their previous experience they had come to expect that nothing they did would be able to stop the shocks, and as such did not attempt to escape even when they could very easily do so. This is learned helplessness.
Humans are also susceptible to this lovely piece of conditioning and it was something that I observed probably thousands of times during my days at school and I continue to see it a lot in everyday life. It's almost funny to think how susceptible we are to mental conditioning. Hell, people even have this about their whole intellectual potential. If someone repeatedly does poorly in tests at school they simply accept they are dumb and from that point on never expect to do well again. It's sad. In a sense, the current system in place in which we learn has conditioned us to feel helpless about our education.
One (fairly mediocre) example for myself would be my habit of biting my nails. For years and years I tried to stop, even using products that I would put on my nails to make them taste but, but alas, nothing worked. Finally I decided to give up. This 'give up' mentality that I had associated with this, lasted about 10 years until recently I thought to myself "hang on… you've completed challenges way harder than this. You are far more disciplined and determined than 10 years ago" and I have barely done it since. 10 years of assumed helplessness, can you believe it?
The areas in which this affects are almost countless - depression, anxiety, phobias, shyness and loneliness can all be exacerbated. Do not be lulled into this type of thinking. Do not be an inmate in your own mental prison. There are ways to improve and overcome almost every type of perceived ailment.
Once a month or a few times a year, take stock of yourself. Evaluate and review what you have done, how you did it and what you could improve on. Discover your mental barriers and discover ways in which you can move past them.
"We innovate our way out of all problems" - Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
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