What is learned helplessness

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Learned helplessness is a state of passive behavior produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events. It occurs when an individual perceives that they have no control over a situation and therefore gives up trying to improve or avoid it. This concept was first studied in the field of psychology by Martin Seligman and his colleagues, who conducted experiments with dogs that were subjected to electrical shocks. The dogs eventually stopped trying to escape, exhibiting a state of learned helplessness. This phenomenon can also occur in humans, and has been associated with depression and low self-esteem.

What Is Learned Helplessness