What Is the Relationship Between Learned Helplessness and Depression?

Learned helpless is a condition where a person has learned to act helpless. This motivational problem causes an individual who has failed over and over in the past to believe that he/she is incapable of doing better. This feeling of inadequacy and perceived loss of control can lead to depression.

Causes

• Parents and teachers can cause learned helplessness in children by suggesting that the child's failure is caused by lack of competence rather than lack of effort. Adults can also become victims of learned helplessness as a result of physical or mental abuse.

Effects

• Lack of focus and feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness are some of the effects of learned helplessness. These individuals lack problem-solving skills and suffer from a lack of self-confidence.

Considerations

• With learned helplessness, creativity, positive well-being, and a healthy self-image are lost. The person ultimately loses the ability to be happy as a result of losing the intrinsic motivation needed to achieve.

Significance

• Children and adults with learned helplessness feel they have no control over their environment, because they have never succeeded, even though they tried very hard. They become isolated, anti-social and give up trying.

Results

• Learned helplessness leads to anxiety and depression. A loss of creativity and a sense of powerlessness and unworthiness prevail. An apathetic attitude results when a person feels a complete loss of control.