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Q-1
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Can someone explain the process of learned helplessness to me?
I am inquiring about how to unlearn such behaviour?
I am inquiring about how to unlearn such behaviour?
DaveC426913 said:What have you found out so far?
osilmag said:This is more of a psychology subject. However, it seems to me that the world changes and if something doesn't function or work anymore, maybe persisting/persevering at that is not advisable.
osilmag said:Helplessness can be an actual "mental block" or "trap."
osilmag said:They cannot envision with their minds an alternative.
Some addictions are necessary. I'm addicted to water.osilmag said:An addiction is a malevolent habit that arises from being rewarded in the mind the more that habit continues.
One size does not fit all.Q-1 said:You mean counterfactuals? Yeah, I mean I get that aspect of getting stuck in a certain narrative. How do you change it?
I think you're kidding. (thus, the efficacy of smilies). In case you're not: that is not an addiction. There are specific conditions that need to be met for something to be an addiction, and water does not meet them.Q-1 said:Some addictions are necessary. I'm addicted to water.
DaveC426913 said:One size does not fit all..
DaveC426913 said:Assuming this isn't a broad hypothetical, I think we'd need some specifics of the particular type and circumstances.
DaveC426913 said:I think you're kidding. (thus, the efficacy of smilies). In case you're not: that is not an addiction. There are specific conditions that need to be met for something to be an addiction, and water does not meet them.
Well, I simply meant that a generic question can only evoke generic answers.Q-1 said:So, a hasty generalization on my part?
Rather than truncate a good answer with a short reply, I'd start with Wiki's description, which goes into it in as much detail as desired:Q-1 said:Understood. So, what is addiction?
Often with parents shielding them from the results of non-optimal decisions. If a person is not given the opportunity to make mistakes and corrections, and is then always bailed-out, there is no incentive to consider consequences. This leads to a "Not my problem, someone else will fix it." attitude.Q-1 said:Why do people learn helplessness instead of healthy alternatives?
That is the million dollar question! I suppose I could say try to think of "What would I do if no one else was around to do it? Do I want it enough to do the work?" Or try to think of the steps needed to get the desired result; breaking a problem or activity down to smaller pieces of thought often clarifies thinking.Q-1 said:How do you alter your behaviour then?
DaveC426913 said:Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. Despite the involvement of a number of psychosocial factors, a biological process – one which is induced by repeated exposure to an addictive stimulus – is the core pathology that drives the development and maintenance of an addiction. The two properties that characterize all addictive stimuli are that they are reinforcing(i.e., they increase the likelihood that a person will seek repeated exposure to them) and intrinsically rewarding (i.e., they are perceived as being inherently positive, desirable, and pleasurable)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction
Tom.G said:Often with parents shielding them from the results of non-optimal decisions.
Thanks for that. I'll respond to it shortly.atyy said:
So, skimming the page, (and if you do a CRTL-F) for "control", then the article brims up with highlights of the text.atyy said:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27337390
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4920136/
Psychol Rev. 2016 Jul;123(4):349-67. doi: 10.1037/rev0000033.
Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from neuroscience.
Maier SF, Seligman ME
That is considered not an addiction but a dependency.Q-1 said:But, for the sake of argument, let's say that chronic depressives have an "addiction" to SSRI's?
DaveC426913 said:One form of learned helplessness comes from an interrupted development of self-worth.
DaveC426913 said:As parents encourage their children with constructive praise, the children rate their own self-worth by their parents. As they get older though, ideally that 'You can do it' gets remolded into "I can do it." The praise they got from their parents (and other loves ones of course) becomes internalized. They are able to talk themselves into success.
By your parents - the ones who fed you and kept you alive - telling you.Q-1 said:Such a tricky subject. How is self-worth instilled into a person?
The people you trust most give you positive reinforcement. Eventually, after hearing it enough, you don't need them to physically be there to hear them say it; you repeat their words internally. Eventually, it doesn't necessarily need to be in their voice, but yours.Q-1 said:So, how would you explain that very process of 'internalization'? It's an ambiguous concept to me as far as I can tell.
DaveC426913 said:The people you trust most give you positive reinforcement. Eventually, after hearing it enough, you don't need them to physically be there to hear them say it; you repeat their words internally. Eventually, it doesn't necessarily need to be in their voice, but yours.
You parents - the ones who fed you and kept you alive - are the ones you trust above all others.Q-1 said:How do you isolate that signal-to-noise ratio between competing "voices" to listen to?
DaveC426913 said:*learned that from 'Inside Out' (A superior film, BTW - much deeper than one would think - and very relevant to this thread. I highly recommend it.)
Tom.G said:Often with parents shielding them from the results of non-optimal decisions.
I didn't restrict optimality to Pareto optimal, in fact I seriously doubt that the Pareto constraint is commonly met in everyday life by anyone. Although, in one sense, one may strive to reach their own Pareto optimization. It's a matter of what weighting factors you choose to assign to various factors.Q-1 said:How are Pareto optimal decisions achieved then?
For the sake of truth, do not claim straight away nonsense please.Q-1 said:But, for the sake of argument, let's say that chronic depressives have an "addiction" to SSRI's?
@Q-1-- This thread needs to remain closed. We cannot offer medical advice here on the PF (that's in the rules under INFO at the top of the page).Q-1 said:Some addictions are necessary. I'm addicted to water.
Learned helplessness is a psychological concept that describes a state of feeling helpless or powerless, even when there are opportunities to change or improve a situation. It is a learned response to repeated experiences of failure or lack of control, and it can negatively impact a person's motivation, behavior, and overall well-being.
Learned helplessness typically develops when an individual experiences a series of uncontrollable and negative events. As a result, they may begin to believe that they have no control over their circumstances, leading them to become passive and stop trying to change their situation. This can occur in various areas of life, such as school, work, relationships, or health.
Learned helplessness can have significant effects on a person's life. It can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also affect a person's ability to learn, problem-solve, and make decisions. In severe cases, learned helplessness can even contribute to a sense of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.
There are several ways to overcome learned helplessness. One approach is to challenge and change negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to feelings of helplessness. This can be done through therapy, self-reflection, and practicing positive self-talk. Additionally, building self-efficacy and a sense of control through small, achievable goals can help combat learned helplessness.
While learned helplessness can develop in response to repeated negative experiences, it can also be prevented. One way to prevent learned helplessness is by teaching individuals to have a growth mindset, which emphasizes the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed. Encouraging a sense of autonomy and providing opportunities for success and control can also help prevent learned helplessness from developing.