Learned Helplessness: A Theory for the Age of Personal Control

My Psychologist suggested I read this book. I was going through a divorce that was not by my choice and feeling trapped, manipulated and depressed. Honestly, I didn't finish reading the whole book. It was too technical for me to stay interested through the last chapters. The several chapters I did read convinced me that I was not trapped by my circumstances and unlike the tested subjects, I was not helpless. It revolutionized my attitide and helped turn my depression around. I have subsequently, bought two other books by the author, "Authentic Happiness" and "Learned Optimism" and give them two enthusiastic thumbs up! Life changing!

I enjoyed this book but I have to admit to a prejudice. I am a huge fan of Seligman's books and grab everything I can get my hands on. This book is well argued and provides compelling evidence of the phenomenom of 'Learned Helpnessness' which can lead to depression, low motivation and poor workplace performance. The book discusses and interprets experimental research in the area of learned helplessness and translates this into the effects that it has on individual performance, health and social interaction. The book looks at locus of control and self-efficacy and how our feelings that events are occurring outside our control leave us feeling powerless. It's a great book for anyone making a study of psychology but I wouldn't recommend it for the casual self-help reader. The detail involved is probably excessive unless you are keen on reading all the background and understanding why and how learned helplessness occurs and how to manage or mitigate it.