Learned Helplessness

• Learned helplessness -> ill people learn to be helpless in uncontrollable situations.
• Learned helplessness and health -> client learns controlling adherence makes no difference to health, so no longer behave to change situation. Thinking in negative ways = passivity and less motivation.
• Learned helplessness- downward spiral -> learned helplessness may lead to depression, reduced adherence, makes depression worse.
• Evaluation of learned helplessness (negatives) -> lack of research support.
• Evaluation of learned helplessness (positives) -> practical uses.