“Most prefer the certainty of misery to the misery of uncertainty.” —Virginia Satir.
Understanding Learned Helplessness
Family psychologist Virginia Satir’s observation about human nature strikes at the heart of a phenomenon known as learned helplessness. This psychological state develops when individuals believe they have no control over their circumstances, leading to passive acceptance of their situation.
Initially identified in animal studies, learned helplessness is now recognized as a human pathology. It manifests in various areas of life, from education and work to parenting and health care.
How Society Reinforces Learned Helplessness
Our societal structures amplify learned helplessness. Consider the following standard practices:
In Education
Overly Authoritative Teaching: When students are given little agency in their learning process, they may believe their efforts are futile.
Punitive Discipline: Heavy reliance on punishment rather than positive reinforcement can discourage students, making them feel incapable of influencing their outcomes.
In Workplaces
Micromanagement: Excessive control over employees’ tasks erodes their sense of autonomy and confidence.
Unclear Expectations: Constantly changing goals without employee input can lead to frustration and disengagement.
In Parenting
Overprotectiveness: Shielding children from failure prevents them from developing resilience and problem-solving skills.
Inconsistent Discipline: Unpredictable consequences make children feel their actions have no bearing on outcomes.
In Healthcare
Dismissive Attitudes: When patients feel unheard, they may become passive in managing their health.
Lack of Patient Education: Without sufficient information, patients can feel powerless and dependent on medical professionals.
With so many societal forces conspiring to support and encourage the dynamics of learned helplessness, it may feel that untangling and undoing learned helplessness requires herculean effort.
However, once we understand and acknowledge learned helplessness, there are some reasonably simple measures we can take to overcome it.
Keep reading to learn a time-tested principle that encourage progress and peace of mind in any situation and five practices you can start implementing today to cultivate presence and empowerment.