Learned helplessness is a condition in which an individual feels powerless to change or control their situation, even when opportunities for change are available. This phenomenon was first identified by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the late 1960s during experiments with dogs. The dogs were subjected to electric shocks from which they couldn’t escape. Eventually, even when the dogs were given the chance to avoid the shocks, they didn’t try, having “learned” that their actions were futile.

Many people give up on things in various areas of their lives – often prematurely. So, is it possible they, too, have experienced learned helplessness? As it turns out, that is highly likely. This concept was later extended to humans, and now we have a way to explain various behaviors where individuals, after experiencing repeated failures or hardships, believe they are incapable of overcoming their challenges. This insight has been particularly helpful when it comes to the science of leadership.

How is Learned Helplessness Used in Academia?

Learned helplessness is often a focus of study within social sciences, such as psychology or leaderology. Researchers explore how it develops, its impact on mental health, and its effects on motivation and behavior. What we have found is that it can manifest in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, it often starts in the early years.

For example, we can examine students who struggle academically. These students may stop trying after repeated failures, believing they are inherently incapable of succeeding in a particular subject. This mindset can be a significant barrier to learning, leading to a cycle of poor performance and further reinforcement of helplessness. Ultimately, this manifests in detrimental ways throughout their lives.

While this can occur unintentionally, it can also be deliberately employed for more questionable purposes. Take, for example, the common issue of students struggling with subjects like economics or history. These subjects are often presented in ways that are overly complex, abstract, and difficult to retain. Consequently, many people disengage from these crucial areas of knowledge, leading to widespread confusion, frustration, and vulnerability to manipulation when it comes to understanding both the foundations and implications of these topics. However, these are not overly difficult topics if taught correctly, so who designed the curriculum that way and why? Furthermore, consider the larger implications for society.

How is Learned Helplessness Used in Society?

In society, learned helplessness is sometimes leveraged by politicians, marketers, and other influencers. For example, politicians may use fear or uncertainty to make citizens feel powerless, creating a sense of dependence on governmental authority or specific leaders. This can lead to a population that is less likely to question or resist policies, even when those policies may not be in their best interest. Now imagine that these individuals are also in control of your education.

Similarly, marketers might use certain tactics to convince consumers that they need a particular product to solve their problems. By emphasizing the difficulties or complexities of a problem, they can make consumers feel helpless, which can increase the perceived value of a solution offered by a product or service. Of course, this can be either started or exacerbated by the media. This strategy is particularly effective in industries like health, beauty, and technology, where consumers may feel overwhelmed by information or options or simply pressured to believe that if they don’t have something, then they are either stupid or less than their neighbors.

How Can Learned Helplessness Be Used to Manipulate People?

Clearly, learned helplessness can be a powerful tool for manipulation. By creating environments where individuals feel consistently defeated or powerless, manipulators can lead people to believe that they have no control over their lives – or, more to the point, that someone else does. If we look around, we should probably be concerned. I’ve provided several examples thus far to demonstrate that this can occur in various settings, but this includes personal relationships, workplaces, and broader societal contexts.

For example, in personal relationships, an abusive partner may create a situation where the victim feels trapped and incapable of leaving, even when opportunities for escape exist. In the workplace, a toxic environment where employees feel undervalued and powerless can lead to a similar sense of helplessness, reducing motivation and making it easier for employers to exploit their workers. Again, if you look at the world around you objectively, you will begin to see it in a variety of contexts.

Why Might Someone Use Learned Helplessness Against Someone?

As you can probably see by now, this phenomenon can be used for nefarious purposes. There are various reasons why someone might use learned helplessness against another person, but the primary motive is often control. By fostering a sense of helplessness, the manipulator maintains power over the victim, ensuring they remain compliant and less likely to resist or challenge authority. Unfortunately, the sick truth is that some individuals derive satisfaction from exerting this control, finding a perverse pleasure in the power they wield.

A particularly disturbing example of this can be found in cases of severe child abuse, where a parent involves siblings in the mistreatment. Over time, these siblings, despite loving their brothers or sisters and knowing the behavior is wrong, may begin to take pleasure in the power dynamics at play. One well-known case is that of Gabriel Fernandez. Gabriel’s mother, Pearl Fernandez, subjected Gabriel to unimaginable abuse, including starvation, beatings, and psychological torture. Unfortunately, the environment was so toxic that Gabriel’s older siblings were drawn into the abuse. Under the influence of fear and manipulation, one sibling began to participate, gradually becoming complicit in the mistreatment.

Indeed, this illustrates how learned helplessness, especially when combined with the desire to regain control and power, can not only keep the primary victim trapped but also distort the morality of others involved, perpetuating the cycle of abuse. Now, imagine this potential on a wider scale. Of course, in some cases, learned helplessness may be used unintentionally by those in positions of power who believe they are acting in the best interest of others. For example, a politician may advocate for the reduction in personal liberties in an attempt to protect their constituents. Similarly, a parent might inadvertently teach their child helplessness by overprotecting them, leading the child to believe they are incapable of handling challenges on their own.

Learned Helplessness in the Medical Profession

Sometimes, learned helplessness manifests as a matter of practice. For example, in the medical profession, learned helplessness can be inadvertently (or deliberately) reinforced through the use of complex jargon, authoritative communication, and the power dynamics inherent in doctor-patient relationships. When healthcare professionals use technical language that patients don’t fully understand, essentially exploiting the patient’s ignorance, it can create a sense of confusion and dependency. Patients may feel overwhelmed by their inability to grasp their diagnosis or treatment options, leading them to believe they are incapable of making informed decisions about their own health.

This dynamic can make patients more likely to defer entirely to the doctor’s judgment, even when they have valid concerns or differing preferences. Over time, this can foster a sense of helplessness where patients feel they have little control over their health outcomes, reinforcing a reliance on an often flawed medical system. Now, while not always intentional, this use of learned helplessness can benefit the medical profession by maintaining authority, which is likely why there is not a rush to correct the practice. However, this can also disempower patients and hinder their active participation in their own care. Of course, the greater the ignorance of the patient, the more likely this is to occur.

How Can We Inadvertently Do It to Ourselves?

Learned helplessness is not always imposed by others; we can also impose it on ourselves. This often happens when we face repeated failures or setbacks and begin to internalize the belief that we are incapable of success. This is somewhat related to ‘Classical Conditioning.’ Negative self-talk, low self-esteem, and a fixed mindset can all contribute to this self-imposed helplessness.

For example, if someone repeatedly fails to lose weight despite trying various diets, they may come to believe that they are destined to be overweight, turn to dangerous pharmaceuticals, or stop trying altogether. However, the truth of the matter is that they were likely given poor advice or incorrect nutritional education. Of course, this resignation can extend to other areas of life, creating a pervasive sense of helplessness overall. This is to say that, sometimes, the effects are systemic. Unfortunately, if someone repeatedly tells themselves something that reinforces such beliefs, the resulting behavior simply gets worse.

The Implications of Learned Helplessness

The implications of learned helplessness are far-reaching and can affect various aspects of life. For example, it can lead to chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Once again, these individuals might find themselves dependent on drugs or toxic relationships that merely reinforce their beliefs and behaviors. Of course, it can also hinder academic achievement and contribute to dropout rates. This typically leads to employment and economic issues. In the workplace, it can reduce productivity and job satisfaction. And the list goes on and on, but we have to remember that it started somewhere. Learned helplessness is an effect, but it gets worse.

On a societal level, widespread learned helplessness can lead to apathy and disengagement from civic responsibilities, making populations more susceptible to authoritarian rule or exploitation. It can also hinder social progress, as individuals and groups may feel powerless to effect change, even when opportunities for action exist. Just consider how our society is behaving lately. Do you think that was an accident?

Unfortunately, due to something known as the Pygmalion effect, the person impacted by this will inadvertently begin to manifest or exacerbate a negative outcome for themselves. When someone is suffering from learned helplessness, they often internalize low expectations for themselves. This is to say that if they believe that they are incapable of success, they may inadvertently fulfill that expectation by performing poorly or avoiding challenges altogether.

This is where the Pygmalion effect can play a significant role—if the people around them, such as leaders, peers, or even themselves, hold low expectations, it can further entrench the helpless mindset. Similarly, if they have such low expectations for themselves, they likely do not respect themselves, making it exceptionally difficult for others to respect them, either. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where the individual’s performance aligns with the negative expectations, making it harder for them to break free from the cycle of helplessness. The unfortunate outcome of all of this is not good.

In contrast, positive expectations from others can help counteract learned helplessness. For example, if a leader or mentor recognizes the potential in someone who feels helpless and communicates high expectations, it can encourage the individual to rise above their perceived limitations. This can lead to improved performance and a gradual shift away from the helpless mindset. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just telling someone that they are capable or worthy. It requires a strategic rebuilding of the foundation of expectation, and this is where expert leadership development can be so helpful.

Professional Interventions for Resolution

Professional leadership development, guided by a trained leaderologist (someone who has actually studied the science of leadership), can play a crucial role in helping individuals overcome learned helplessness. By focusing on building personal leadership skills and fostering self-efficacy, expert leaderologists can help equip individuals with the tools to break free from Epistemic Rigidity and reclaim control over their professional and personal lives. This development involves targeted training in decision-making, problem-solving, and effective communication, which ultimately empowers individuals to take initiative and address challenges proactively, which typically results in better outcomes. As individuals achieve better outcomes, they gain a sense of self-worth, and they are less likely to succumb to learned helplessness.

Furthermore, leaderology emphasizes creating supportive environments where individuals receive constructive feedback and encouragement, helping to rebuild confidence and motivation. Conversely, it encourages the abandonment of toxicity in our lives. By addressing the root causes of learned helplessness and promoting a growth mindset, expert leadership development enables individuals to shift from a state of powerlessness to one of self-empowerment and resilience. Ultimately, this process helps to improve their ability to navigate complex situations, realize more victories, and achieve their goals.

NOTE: Professional leadership development is essential, but not all programs offer the same value. When seeking expert assistance, ensure that the practitioner is well-versed in the concepts discussed here. It is equally important to avoid unqualified leadership coaches. Given that this industry is unregulated, many so-called ‘coaches’ lack a solid foundation in the scientific methods necessary for effective correction, offering little more than superficial ‘pep-rally’ leadership coaching. Learn more by clicking here.

How Can We Prevent Ourselves from Falling Victim to Learned Helplessness?

Preventing learned helplessness on our own can be difficult, but it can be done. It involves building resilience, fostering a growth mindset, and creating supportive environments that encourage empowerment. Indeed, you have some power in this regard. Here are a few strategies:

1. Recognize the signs: Being aware of the symptoms of learned helplessness, such as chronic pessimism or a belief in personal ineffectiveness, can help individuals identify when they are at risk.
2. Focus on small successes: Setting and achieving small, manageable goals can help rebuild a sense of control and competence.
3. Challenge negative beliefs: Replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth can help counteract feelings of helplessness.
4. Seek support: Building a network of supportive relationships can provide encouragement and perspective, helping individuals overcome setbacks.
5. Develop problem-solving skills: Developing strong problem-solving skills can increase confidence in one’s ability to handle challenges.
6. Learn: Sure, educating yourself about the mechanisms of learned helplessness and how it can be used against us can empower you to resist manipulation and maintain your autonomy. However, I’m suggesting that you learn as a matter of principle. Learn anything, and learn often. This reduces ignorance, which provides you with more context in various settings.
7. Get Help: Self-help can only go so far because we don’t know what we don’t know. Similarly, you have to appreciate that such conditioning is very strong – there is a lot to overcome. If you are still struggling after trying some of these strategies, seek out an expert to help you over the hill.

Final Thoughts

Indeed, learned helplessness is a powerful phenomenon with significant implications for individuals and society. However, by understanding its mechanisms, recognizing its presence in various contexts, and taking proactive steps to counteract it (such as seeking expert help), we can protect ourselves from its detrimental effects and foster a sense of empowerment and control over our lives. Personally, I would argue that it all begins with how we talk to ourselves. Be very careful about the things you tell yourself because you’re probably going to listen to it.