Phrase guide

learned helplessness

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˈlɝnd ˈhɛlplɪsnɪs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A psychological state arising after an individual is repeatedly exposed to uncontrollable negative events, leading them to perceive their actions as ineffective in altering their adverse circumstances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From psychological research in the 1960s; details are at Wikipedia.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عَجْز مُتَعَلِّم (ʕajz mutaʕallim) — Translations
  • Arabic: عَجْز مُكْتَسَب (ʕajz muktasab) — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 習得性失助 /习得性失助 — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 習得性無助 /习得性无助 (xídéxìng wúzhù) — Translations
  • Dutch: aangeleerde hulpeloosheid — Translations
  • Finnish: opittu avuttomuus — Translations
  • French: impuissance apprise — Translations
  • French: résignation acquise — Translations
  • Hungarian: tanult tehetetlenség — Translations
  • Polish: wyuczona bezradność — Translations
  • Russian: вы́ученная беспо́мощность (výučennaja bespómoščnostʹ) — Translations
  • Spanish: indefensión aprendida — Translations
  • Swedish: inlärd hjälplöshet — Translations
  • Ukrainian: ви́вчена безпора́дність (vývčena bezporádnistʹ) — Translations