Two experiments investigated the relationship between the magnitude of motivation for control over the environment and tendency to derogate victims. Manipulated situational controllability and uncontrollability within a learned helplessness procedure and assessed derogation of a victimized stranger. Results indicated that motivation and need for…

The Total Environment Approach was developed to deal with possible constraints in three areas of the environment which limit the older individual's ability to choose leisure activities. The three areas are: the physical environment, the psychological environment, and the social environment. (JN)

The application of learned helplessness theory to achievement is discussed within the context of implications for research in learning disabilities. Finally, the similarities between helpless children and learning disabled students in terms of problems solving and attention are discussed. (Author)

Twenty-eight learned helpless children (ages 9-13) assessed as reading below grade level were randomly assigned to one of four reinforcement and attribution retaining treatments. Indirect and direct attribution retaining increased childrens' reading persistence and their attribution of failure on the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility scale…

Investigates the effects of a helplessness experience on the subsequent performance of deaf adolescents functioning at mildly underachieving or severely underachieving levels. Results indicate high post-test error scores among severely underachieving deaf adolescents experiencing an unsolvable pretreatment situation. Recommendations offer…

Proposes a model that assumes the relationships among unemployment and expectation of success, commitment to work, motivation, causal attributions, self-esteem, and depression are moderated by first-time job-seeking and age. Results show that, for first-job seekers, the relationships among these variables is consistent with expectancy-value…

Study looked to determine the strength of the relationship between smoking, depression, intention to smoke, and several psychosocial and environmental factors. Participants completed the Multiscore Depression Inventory (MDI) and items regarding smoking behavior. Analyses found that participants were more likely to smoke if parents smoked, if…

Summarizes prominent research-based perspectives on children's thinking about their own achievement. Identifies effective tactics for classroom intervention and teacher influence. (RJC)

Through a case study of one gifted child, this article explores the themes of being in charge of oneself and one's environment, and of attempting to assimilate dangers in the world around them. Efforts to cope with and understand danger, from natural disaster to daily life, are closely examined. (PB)

Drawing upon the works of Paulo Freire and Lev S. Vygotsky, this paper argues that the institution of special education inculcates helplessness rather than autonomy, discusses the cognitive behavior modifications that enable self-control and self-mediation of learning, and proposes the educational ideal of student empowerment and autonomy. (JDD)

Assessed helplessness behaviors in five- to seven-year-old children of mothers with and without depression. Found that, although mothers with depression set a more negative affective tone than mothers without depression during mother-child puzzle tasks, there were few significant differences between the two groups of mothers and children. (MDM)

Examined the hypothesis that processes other than those related to concepts about ability produce helplessness in children younger than 10. Found that eight year olds did not experience helplessness in response to feedback about their failure in an achievement task but did experience helplessness when they failed to perform a physical task. (MM)

This study examined the response of intermediate-grade boys (N=18) and girls (N=20) with (N=20) or without (N=18) learning disabilities (LD) to experimental dyadic interactions, either friendly or unfriendly. Children with LD were hypersensitive to both situations and girls with LD appeared most negatively affected by the unfriendly interaction.…

Explored the Korean concepts of emotion "dapdaphada" and "uulhada," somewhat equivalent to helplessness and depression, respectively. Results with 50 Korean and 50 German undergraduates indicate that these terms are specific emotion words in the domain of sadness with no translation equivalent in German. (SLD)

Finds that teaching 13-year-old poor readers to use effective reading strategies convinced them that reading successes and failures were attributable to use of effective or ineffective strategies; improved their comprehension performance and increased use of reading strategies; and reduced their perceptions of learned helplessness. (RS)