Learned helplessness is a phrase that was originally developed to describe a common occurrence in the animal kingdom. Scientists noticed that animals often internalized negative stimuli to such an extent that their fear of a possibly adverse result prevented them from trying something. You know the adage; an elephant never forgets? This is actually what that idiom is talking about. Elephants don’t actually have great memories, but if a baby elephant is tied up with a simple rope and stake, when tied the same way as an adult it believes it can’t get away and stops trying even though it easily could. This is learned helplessness.
While the theory started as an observation about how animals respond in certain situations, learned helplessness can also negatively impact us human animals. Learned helplessness in people can look like frustration, under achieving, compliant or passive behavior, low self-worth, and easily giving up. While people respond to learned helplessness in these differing ways, the result is the same – We have told ourselves so many times that we can’t do something that now we believe it without trying. This can be anything. Maybe you didn’t excel at math in school, so now, you say you’re bad at math and don’t try to understand it. Maybe you got nervous the first few times you attempted public speaking, so now, you believe you can’t overcome your stage fright. You can probably think of at least one thing you don’t do because you’ve tried it and failed.
How Do I Overcome Learned Helplessness?
Learned helplessness can be really limiting. When you’ve been told (or told yourself) enough times that you can’t do something, you prevent yourself from trying and achieving a goal or learning to enjoy something that can positively impact your life. It’s easy to say I can’t do that. It’s challenging to say, I failed at this in the past, but I’m going to try again. That’s what overcoming learned helplessness is all about. If you’re willing to try something again because it could bring a positive change to your life, you may be surprised by how rewarding it is to overcome your past perceptions. There is one really important thing to keep in mind. It can be tempting to try to overcome our learned helplessness in isolation. We don’t want anyone to see us fail! Actually, secretly striving at something you’ve struggled with in the past may increase your risk of failing again. Instead, consider working with someone who’s more knowledgeable. Whether you’re taking a painting class at a local art studio or watching a how to guide online, seek the guidance of someone who has successfully done what you’re attempting.
Finally, don’t be afraid to fail. Fear of failure is the real source of learned helplessness. When you start to give yourself permission to fail and accept imperfect results, you may just find yourself enjoying trying something new and developing new abilities.
What Is the Role of Assessment?
Assessment can help you overcome your own, possibly incorrect, perceptions about your abilities. In many cases, learned helplessness develops from being told we’re not able to do something or being discouraged from trying something again because we weren’t able to do it in the past. Every person, regardless of a specific diagnosis, has a unique set of skills and abilities. Assessment helps you clearly understand your ability levels, areas where you may struggle, and it can guide you to the right resources to overcome any deficits. Falling into habits of learned helplessness can (and does) happen to anyone of any ability level. If you want to overcome learned helplessness, assessment is one tool that can give you the necessary knowledge to begin achieving real change in your life.
