To succeed or not to succeed: A critical review of issues in learned helplessness

A critical analysis of theoretical and methodological issues in learned helplessness is presented. Researchers have tended to focus upon learned helplessness as a behavioral trait independent of contextual conditions. Learned helplessness has been studied exclusively in achievement settings using ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Contemporary educational psychology 1983, Vol.8 (1), p.1-19
Main Author: Mark, Sandra Fay
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:A critical analysis of theoretical and methodological issues in learned helplessness is presented. Researchers have tended to focus upon learned helplessness as a behavioral trait independent of contextual conditions. Learned helplessness has been studied exclusively in achievement settings using achievement tasks, perceived as maladaptive behavior requiring some intervention strategy or retraining program. It has not been studied as an adaptive response to situational demands. It is the purpose of this paper to analyze the theoretical backgrounds and methodological limitations of much of the research in learned helplessness and to suggest new directions and implications for education.
ISSN:0361-476X
1090-2384
DOI:10.1016/0361-476X(83)90030-9