Learned Helplessness Research Paper
Affects of Learned Helplessness
Yilliam Llanes
Florida International University
Affects of Learned Helplessness Ever been taught to do something and when you try to change your way of doing it, you end up failing? You’ve tried but feel like you need to give up? That is learned helplessness. For example, in India, baby elephants are tied to a pole with rope by their feet and they struggle to break free. They try various times until they have realized they are not able to escape. Once they have grown to adult size, they are now capable to escape if they wish to because they are stronger than the rope. They will not escape because the baby elephant has learned to be helpless. There are many different ways that learned helplessness can …show more content…
Many individuals who suffer from depression, seem to think they are helpless. For example, a student takes an exam and does not pass it. They then think because they failed they are stupid. By thinking this way, whenever this student takes another exam and fails it, they will keep thinking they are useless and give up; no longer try. Those who have high- stress are more likely to also develop helplessness. Males and females who are overweight or obese, tend to lack physical activity. There was a study conducted by Trout and Graber (2009) in a high school (N= 12) where they assessed seven female students and five male students whose body mass index was the same or higher than the normal body mass they are suppose to have for their age. According to Trout and Graber (p. 272) “Despite recognizing the relationship between lack of physical activity and obesity, many participants avoided participation because they had been traumatized to the extent of exhibiting symptoms consistent with learned helplessness.” This study showed that these twelve students would engage in physical education activities if they were shielded away from their peers. The onset of overweight and obesity has been linked to many factors such as: Depression, poor nutrition, their lifestyle, body image and the media, appetite signals, genetics, and psychological, social, and demographic factors. The physical education teachers say that the problem with children who are overweight or obese is out of their control because it is beyond getting that one hour of physical education at school. This overweight problem also has to do with their nutrition, physical activity outside of school, and their
Yilliam Llanes
Florida International University
Affects of Learned Helplessness Ever been taught to do something and when you try to change your way of doing it, you end up failing? You’ve tried but feel like you need to give up? That is learned helplessness. For example, in India, baby elephants are tied to a pole with rope by their feet and they struggle to break free. They try various times until they have realized they are not able to escape. Once they have grown to adult size, they are now capable to escape if they wish to because they are stronger than the rope. They will not escape because the baby elephant has learned to be helpless. There are many different ways that learned helplessness can …show more content…
Many individuals who suffer from depression, seem to think they are helpless. For example, a student takes an exam and does not pass it. They then think because they failed they are stupid. By thinking this way, whenever this student takes another exam and fails it, they will keep thinking they are useless and give up; no longer try. Those who have high- stress are more likely to also develop helplessness. Males and females who are overweight or obese, tend to lack physical activity. There was a study conducted by Trout and Graber (2009) in a high school (N= 12) where they assessed seven female students and five male students whose body mass index was the same or higher than the normal body mass they are suppose to have for their age. According to Trout and Graber (p. 272) “Despite recognizing the relationship between lack of physical activity and obesity, many participants avoided participation because they had been traumatized to the extent of exhibiting symptoms consistent with learned helplessness.” This study showed that these twelve students would engage in physical education activities if they were shielded away from their peers. The onset of overweight and obesity has been linked to many factors such as: Depression, poor nutrition, their lifestyle, body image and the media, appetite signals, genetics, and psychological, social, and demographic factors. The physical education teachers say that the problem with children who are overweight or obese is out of their control because it is beyond getting that one hour of physical education at school. This overweight problem also has to do with their nutrition, physical activity outside of school, and their