Preventing Learned Helplessness Inside Special Education Classrooms

Chantori Nelson

Learned Helplessness is defined as a person’s sense of inability to succeed in learning and performing at ones best potential. Because they do not think success is possible, they stop trying. This problem can definitely affect anyone, but it is especially common among students with disabilities. Learned Helplessness matters because it can keep kids from making positive changes in their life and holds a negative impact on their future learning. This project explores the effects of learned helplessness and solutions that families and educators can use to overcome this serious problem. Using the Jackson Library’s EBSCO databases, a literature review was conducted to identify research-based solutions. Teachers and parents should always recognize the importance of Learned Helplessness and adopt these solutions in order to prevent and overcome the effects of this problem.