Showing papers in "Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 1978"

Learned Helplessness in Humans: Critique and Reformulation

Abstract: The learned helplessness hypothesis is criticized and reformulated. The old hypothesis, when applied to learned helplessness in humans, has two major problems: (a) It does not distinguish between cases in which outcomes are uncontrollable for all people and cases in which they are uncontrollable only for some people (univervsal vs. personal helplessness), and (b) it does not explain when helplessness is general and when specific, or when chronic and when acute. A reformulation based on a revision of attribution theory is proposed to resolve these inadequacies. According to the reformulation, once people perceive noncontingency, they attribute their helplessness to a cause. This cause can be stable or unstable, global or specific, and internal or external. The attribution chosen influences whether expectation of future helplessness will be chronic or acute, broad or narrow, and whether helplessness will lower self-esteem or not. The implications of this reformulation of human helplessness for the learned helplessness model of depression are outlined.

Unpredictable and uncontrollable events: a new perspective on experimental neurosis.

Abstract: Recent work has shown that unpredictable and/or uncontrollable events can produce a variety of cognitive, affective, and somatic disturbances to the organism. These disturbances are compared to and found to be quite similar to the symptoms of the classic cases of experimental neurosis described by Pavlov, Gantt, Liddell, Masserman, and Wolpe. The hypothesis is then developed that the common thread running through the entire experimental neurosis literature is that in each case important life events become unpredictable or uncontrollable, or both. This interpretation is contrasted with the earlier physiological, psychodynamic, and behavioral interpretations made by the investigators themselves. The implications of this analysis of experimental neurosis for various issues in the predictability-controllability literature are discussed—for example, the interaction between unpredictability and uncontrollability, the \"threshold\" for response to lack of predictability or controllability, and the lack versus the loss of predictability and controllability. Finally, the possible clinical relevance of this new perspective on experimental neurosis is discussed.

A critical review of Seligman's laboratory experiments on learned helplessness and depression in humans.

Abstract: Six laboratory experiments on learned helplessness and depression in humans reported by Seligman and his colleagues were critically reviewed. They were found to provide little or no support for the learned helplessness theory of depression. A number of methodologica l and conceptual problems were discussed. In conclusion, it was suggested that heuristic theories such as Seligman's should be closely examined before psychologists embark on an extensive series of experimental tests. Seligman and his colleagues have conducted a number of laboratory experiments on learned helplessness and depression in humans. The findings have been considered by Seligman to provide support for his learned helplessness theory of depression, and one will usually find the reports of these experiments listed in writings about the theory. I shall attempt to show that the findings of his experiments provide little or no support for his theory. This review will be restricted to the six articles reporting experiments with humans that have been conducted by Seligman and his colleagues.1 It would seem particularly important at this stage to evaluate Seligman's own thinking and work in this area rather than to venture into an evaluation' of work in other laboratories that may be based on a misinterpretation of Seligman's ideas. The present article has been divided into three sections. In the first section, methodological and conceptual problems specific to each experiment will be noted. In the second section, these problems and some additional problems common to all of the studies will be discussed more generally. In the third section, I shall comment on the popularity of the learned helplessness theory. I shall also comment on the importance of scrutinizing the