Dynamics of Human Helplessness

The monograph Dynamics of Human Helplessness is addressed to the psychosocial explication of a culturally pervasive phenomenon of passivity. The book traces the evolution of the construct beginning from the laboratory-oriented experimental analogue to its present complex forms of manifestation. The operationalization of the construct is presented and its current conceptualization is discussed. Specific attention is given to delineate the origin of helplessness. In this context, the role of early contingency, parental expectancy, attitude and rearing strategies, and attribution training are discussed. Empirical studies are indicated to document the evidence. In addition, a brief description of the experiential antecedents such as performance feedback, peer influence and school socialization is given to further clarify the origin of helplessness. In order to deal with the conceptual network, the relationship of the construct of helplessness with other concepts such as self-efficacy and control beliefs is delineated. The application domains such as depression, disease susceptibility, academic impairment, work inefficiency and mental health problems are elaborated. Finally, the strategies to combat helplessness are illustrated and directions for future research are outlined. In sum, the book presents the dynamics of a universal phenomenon with its culturally-relevant parameters.