A Correlation between Learned Helplessness and Academic Success for Children



A Correlation between Learned Helplessness and Academic Success for Children

Introduction

Learned helplessness is a condition in human psychology whereby a person learns to behave in a helpless manner even when the person can help himself by avoiding the unpleasant situations. It is the change in the level of motivation, learning and affect in a person which leads to uncontrollable results or results that are essentially non-contingent (Fincham, 1989). The learned helplessness in children occurs when children are faced with a certain failure and they cling to it. They feel that any situation they face is out of their control and there is nothing they can do about it. Among these children who suffer from learned helplessness, there are two groups. Those who believe that the failure was a consequence of the lack of effort and those who do not (Fincham, 1986). This behavior is very common in children and the signs may be observed by the parents and teachers. For instance, a child may constantly complain that he cannot do numbers and does not make an effort to overcome the weakness.

Purpose of the Research

The aims of the research are as follows:

What are the reasons behind the development of learned helplessness?

What are the differences between learned helplessness in adults and that in children?

Is there a correlation between learned helplessness and the academic performance of the child?

What are the implications of the correlation determined in the study for educators?

What is the role of parents in child development?

Hypothesis

Ho: There is a correlation between learned helplessness and academic success for children

Ha: There is no correlation between learned helplessness and academic success for children

Background

Learned helplessness might have an impact on academic performance as it is coupled with test anxiety. This behavior in children may be studied ...