Learned helplessness
🥺 Understanding and Overcoming ‘Learned Helplessness’ 🧐
Learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon where an individual—whether human or animal—after repeated exposure to uncontrollable and stressful situations, learns that escape or change is impossible. This leads to a passive attitude where one stops trying, even when opportunities exist to escape or improve the situation.
Here are some examples:
- An employee who is constantly criticized, regardless of their performance, may eventually feel that improvement is impossible. This can lead to demotivation, a lack of initiative, and ultimately burnout.
- A horse that is consistently trained harshly, without reward or breaks, may eventually give up and become completely passive, even when it is no longer under pressure.
🐴🥺🐴 What’s remarkable is that both humans and horses have a deep-seated need for control over their own lives and environment. When this control is taken away, regardless of the context, it leads to similar psychological reactions.
❤️🌱 Overcoming Learned Helplessness
Breaking through learned helplessness begins with creating an environment where trust and safety are central, for both humans and horses. This includes:
- Positive reinforcement
- Consistency and predictability
- Empathy and understanding
- Gradual progress
- Patience and time
💪🏽🐴 The Importance of Coaching and Guidance
At Horse Act, we work alongside horses to teach these important lessons in a safe and supportive environment. By observing and working with horses, people can learn how to recognize and overcome their own learned helplessness. The horses serve as mirrors, reflecting our behaviors and emotions without judgment. This offers a unique opportunity for self-reflection and growth. Learned helplessness is not the end; it’s a phase that can be overcome with the right guidance, attention, and care.
🌱 Want to learn more about how we at Horse Act work with teams and individuals? Contact us for a personal introduction.
