PSYC 2101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Learned Helplessness, Internet Addiction Disorder, Reinforcement
Document Summary
Reduce, or tolerate the demands created by stress. Learned helplessness is the passive behavior produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events. Sometimes this behavior is transferred to situations in which the individual is not really helpless. This then creates a passive reaction to stressful events rather than active problem solving. Cognitive interpretation of aversive events may determine whether we feel helpless or not. People with pessimistic explanatory style view aversive events as out of their control fell helpless and give up. This coping style is called behavioral disengagement and is associated with increased distress. Our competitive nature discourages giving up and places a negative value on it. Frustration elicited by stressful events may elicit aggression or a behavior intended to hurt someone physically or verbally, people act out towards people who have nothing to do with their frustration. Freud believed aggressive acts could release pent up emotional tension and called the process catharsis.
