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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness Quote:Learned helplessness is the condition of a human or animal that has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant circumstances or by gaining positive rewards. Learned helplessness theory is the view that clinical depression and related mental illnesses may result from a perceived absence of control over the outcome of a situation.[1] Organisms that have been ineffective and less sensitive in determining the consequences of their behavior are defined as having acquired Learned Helplessness
Hope is an incredibly powerful thing. We can learn hope to help combat the helplessness. Sometimes I believe the individual needs help with that, they can’t see it on their own and someone like a counselor is needed to help them put steps in place to hope for a better result even when their past experience tells them it didn’t work in the past and may feel hopeless or helpless. But we are not creatures of destiny by our past, but our destiny lies in what we do to make today worthwhile.
I find your quote interesting in that it included “organisms” in this, including humans and other creatures. But I would think humans have an advantage…an ability to reason and pull oneself out of the helpless state by determining today what things to try with hope and faith. I’m not sure other creatures have that capacity.
Martin Seligman found this phenomenon….he then went on to found the positive psychology movement. And wrote a book called Learned Optimism….I think it is good for each person to read!
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