Martin Seligman studied the case of a young marine who was being held prisoner during the Vietnam War.When the marine was not released on the date promised, he immediately lapsed into a deep depression, refused to eat or drink, and died shortly after.According to Seligman, this case illustrated the concept of

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The case of the young marine illustrates learned helplessness, which is a psychological state where a person feels unable to control their environment or situation, even if it is objectively possible to do so. The marine had learned to expect a certain outcome - release on a specific date - and when that did not happen, he felt helpless and depressed. This led to his refusal to eat and drink, ultimately causing his death. Seligman's research has focused extensively on learned helplessness and its effects on psychological well-being.

Martin Seligman Studied the Case of a Young Marine Who