The person most closely associated with research on learned helplessness is ________.
A) Thorndike
B) Wolpe
C) Seligman
D) Bandura

Question

The person most closely associated with research on learned helplessness is ________.
A) Thorndike
B) Wolpe
C) Seligman 
D) Bandura

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Seligman is considered the person most closely associated with research on learned helplessness. In 1965, Seligman and his colleagues discovered that dogs subjected to inescapable electric shocks eventually gave up trying to avoid the shocks, even when opportunities to escape were later presented. This research led to the development of the theory of learned helplessness, which suggests that repeatedly experiencing uncontrollable negative events can lead to a mindset of powerlessness and decreased motivation to try to improve one's situation.

The Person Most Closely Associated with Research on Learned Helplessness