Application of Learned Helplessness

Meet Tom. Tom studied hard for 4 years and got a Degree in Architecture. This is not how Tom imagined his life to be. Tom went knocking on every door after graduation. He attended dozens of interviews and looked for a job even under rocks. He seemed to believe that they were discriminating him for some reason, or maybe they didn't like his personality. Tom got frustrated because he couldn't get a job and resigned himself to working at McDonald's. He learned to live in his own helplessness and adapted to a situation that he created for himself. Now Tom is depressed and has to deal with some hundreds of customers in a place where he does not want to be. One day, Tom discovered what he later referred to as "his own personal bible".

In this book Tom learned about learned helplessness and how to overcome it. He felt enlightened and empowered to pursue his career dreams. Sure, he was rejected a couple of times, but Tom never gave up and he is now working in a firm with a corner office that overlooks the ocean. God Bless Martin Seligman.

Example of Learned Helplessness

When a person is shy or introverted, after observing that he does not make friends with such facility, this person may think that he/she will never make friends. Therefore, in any social gathering or party he/she will resign themselves to talk to people or try to socialize because he/she has already accepted his/her fate of being a lonely man/woman. When being in these situations, it is important to think that a mishap or a temporary humiliation or rejection does not mean that this will be the trend for your entire life. Some people are nicer than others and humans are designed to live toghether. Isolating yourself from civilization guarantees people will be depressed and may even have suicidal thoughts. In this way, Learned Helplessness is extremely significant to understanding the everday troubles and failures of human beings.