Let's Talk About "Learned Helplessness"

Let's talk about this unpopular topic: "learned helplessness." In simple terms, this is a state that occurs after a person has repeatedly experienced a stressful situation. And this can happen to both students and adults. But understanding it can help us break the cycle and empower ourselves and others.

What is Learned Helplessness? Learned helplessness was first introduced by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the 1960s. They discovered that when animals were subjected to unavoidable and uncontrollable stress, they eventually stopped trying to avoid it, even when escape was possible. This phenomenon was termed "learned helplessness."

In humans, learned helplessness occurs when individuals face repeated adverse situations that they feel powerless to change. Over time, they develop a belief that their actions have no impact on the outcome, leading to a sense of resignation and passivity. This can manifest in various areas of life, including education, work, relationships, and mental health.

Examples of Learned Helplessness in the Classroom

We may not realize we do this or experience this. Let's take a look at various experiences where students feel they lack control or the ability to succeed. Here are some examples:

• Consistent Failure: Repeated poor grades or failures despite putting in effort can lead students to believe that their actions won't change the outcome, causing them to give up.
• Negative Feedback: Constant criticism or harsh feedback from teachers without constructive advice can make students feel incapable of improvement.
• High-Stakes Testing: Excessive emphasis on standardized tests and high-stakes exams can create anxiety and a sense of inevitability about failure.
• Lack of Support: Inadequate help or resources for struggling students can lead them to feel abandoned and helpless in their learning journey.
• Peer Comparison: Continuous comparison with peers who perform better can make students feel inferior and demotivated.
• Unclear Expectations: Ambiguous instructions or expectations from teachers can lead to confusion and a sense of helplessness when students don't know what is required of them.
• Overly Strict Rules: Rigid classroom rules that don't allow for student autonomy can stifle creativity and independent thinking, leading to learned helplessness.
• Punitive Measures: Frequent use of punishment rather than positive reinforcement can discourage students from trying again after making mistakes.
• Lack of Relevance: If the curriculum doesn't connect with students' interests or real-life applications, they may feel disengaged and helpless in their studies.
• Language Barriers: For non-native speakers, language difficulties can create significant barriers to understanding and participating, leading to feelings of helplessness.

Learned Helplessness in Teachers

Does this sound familiar? And this can affect teachers too, particularly when they face repeated challenges or failures that seem beyond their control. This can lead to a sense of powerlessness and demotivation, which can negatively impact their teaching effectiveness and overall well-being. Here are some ways it might manifest:

• Feeling Ineffective: Teachers who consistently experience difficulties in managing classroom behavior or helping students succeed may start to believe they are ineffective educators.
• Burnout: Chronic stress and a sense of helplessness can lead to burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment.
• Avoiding Challenges: Teachers may start avoiding innovative teaching methods or challenging subjects, fearing that their efforts will be futile.
• Lowered Expectations: Teachers with learned helplessness may lower their expectations for their students, assuming that certain students are incapable of improvement.
• Negative Attitude: A sense of helplessness can lead to a negative attitude towards the profession, colleagues, and students.
• Decreased Professional Development: Teachers may lose interest in professional development opportunities, believing that additional training or new strategies won't make a difference.

Strategies to Combat Learned Helplessness To combat learned helplessness among teachers, schools and administrators can implement several strategies:

• Provide Support and Resources: Offer professional development, mentoring, and resources to help teachers address challenges effectively.
• Encourage Collaboration: Foster a supportive community where teachers can share experiences, strategies, and successes.
• Recognize and Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate teachers' achievements and positive impacts on students.
• Promote a Growth Mindset: Encourage teachers to view challenges as opportunities for growth and development.
• Ensure Work-Life Balance: Support policies and practices that promote a healthy work-life balance for teachers.

Breaking the Cycle

Addressing learned helplessness involves breaking the cycle of powerlessness by fostering a positive and empowering environment. By implementing these strategies, we can help individuals regain a sense of control, build resilience, and achieve their full potential. Whether you're a student, educator, or professional, understanding learned helplessness and taking proactive steps can lead to a more fulfilling and empowered life.

Let's continue the conversation on how we can support each other in overcoming learned helplessness and achieving success. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!