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Health psychologists interested in studying the influence of positive and negative thinking on weight loss conducted a study on 120 obese adults attempting to lose weight. Participants indicated on a scale of 1 to 7 how successful they thought they would be at losing weight (1 = "not successful" and 7 = "very successful") and how much control they believed they had over their success (1 = "no control" and 7 = "complete control") , recorded as expectation of success scores and control of success scores, respectively.Participants were then randomly divided into three groups and asked to complete a 15-minute guided mental exercise twice a day for three weeks. Participants in the fantasy/reality contrast condition were instructed to reflect on two positive aspects of a fantasized weight loss, such as attaining better health and more energy, and two negative aspects of reality that impede weight loss, such as lack of discipline and desire to eat unhealthy foods. Participants in the positive fantasy condition were asked to reflect on four positive aspects of weight loss, and participants in the negative reality condition were asked to reflect on four factors that impede weight loss.At the end of this three-week period, participants began a three-month diet and exercise regimen involving caloric restriction to 1,500 calories per day as well as regular participation in aerobic exercise and weight training. Researchers recorded weekly weights of participants and surveyed participants regarding adherence to proactive weight loss strategies. The results are shown by group in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1 Average weight recorded for each group during three-month follow-up
Figure 2 Initial expectation of success score versus average weight loss
-Which of the following participants are most likely to experience learned helplessness?

Question

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Health psychologists interested in studying the influence of positive and negative thinking on weight loss conducted a study on 120 obese adults attempting to lose weight. Participants indicated on a scale of 1 to 7 how successful they thought they would be at losing weight (1 = "not successful" and 7 = "very successful") and how much control they believed they had over their success (1 = "no control" and 7 = "complete control") , recorded as expectation of success scores and control of success scores, respectively.Participants were then randomly divided into three groups and asked to complete a 15-minute guided mental exercise twice a day for three weeks. Participants in the fantasy/reality contrast condition were instructed to reflect on two positive aspects of a fantasized weight loss, such as attaining better health and more energy, and two negative aspects of reality that impede weight loss, such as lack of discipline and desire to eat unhealthy foods. Participants in the positive fantasy condition were asked to reflect on four positive aspects of weight loss, and participants in the negative reality condition were asked to reflect on four factors that impede weight loss.At the end of this three-week period, participants began a three-month diet and exercise regimen involving caloric restriction to 1,500 calories per day as well as regular participation in aerobic exercise and weight training. Researchers recorded weekly weights of participants and surveyed participants regarding adherence to proactive weight loss strategies. The results are shown by group in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 Average weight recorded for each group during three-month follow-up

Figure 2 Initial expectation of success score versus average weight loss
-Which of the following participants are most likely to experience learned helplessness?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0c9f_6517_a3bf_235b067c7e87_MD0008_00 Learned helplessness describes feelings of extreme powerlessness along with a perceived lack of control, often resulting from a series of failures or trauma. When an individual starts to feel that his efforts are futile and stops trying altogether, learned helplessness has occurred. Learned helplessness has been associated with an external locus of control and low self-efficacy. Locus of control is defined by whether an individual believes her actions will impact the outcome of a situation. An individual with an internal locus of control feels that she has power to influence the outcome; an individual with an external locus of control feels that the outcome is due to luck or fate, which she cannot influence. Self-efficacy describes a person's beliefs about his own competence or ability at a certain task. Self-efficacy can vary from task to task. For example, someone with high self-efficacy for math may have low self-efficacy for playing soccer. Self-efficacy can also change over time. For example, after attending a soccer camp, the individual's self-efficacy for soccer may be high. The expectation of success score reflects self-efficacy, whereas the control of success score reflects locus of control. Those who selected "not successful" (low self-efficacy for weight loss) and "no control" (external locus of control for weight loss) are the most likely to experience learned helplessness (Choices A, B, and C). Educational objective: Learned helplessness describes feelings of powerlessness and loss of control, often occurring after a series of failures or trauma. Learned helplessness is tied to low self-efficacy (personal beliefs about one's abilities) and an external locus of control (personal beliefs about whether one can influence the outcome of a situation).

Passage Health Psychologists Interested in Studying the Influence of Positive and and Negative