Have you ever imagined the state of people after the epidemic is over?
The whole society is in full swing and fully recovered, and people's spirits are lifted?
I'm not too optimistic. The problem is not the economy, but the "psychological crisis" that is spreading right now. I'm not talking about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but "the fading light in the eye" - learned helplessness.
It cannot be seen or touched. But from a certain point of view, it is more harmful than the virus.
1. What is learned helplessness
In 1967, the famous behavioral psychologist Martin Seligman found in an experiment that dogs gave up escaping in a new environment (where they could easily escape shocks) after receiving multiple electric shocks that they could not get rid of. It's like "learning" to give up control of fate and be at the mercy of it.
Subsequent studies have found that this psychology also exists in humans.
Experienced setbacks may make us form a strange email list state of mind. Even when we can get rid of bad luck and control the situation, we are still willing to give up on ourselves.
Seligman is more concerned that the depression that accompanies learned helplessness can do more physical harm than depression itself.
Subsequent studies in behavioral medicine and health psychology have confirmed from different perspectives that "pessimistic and depressed" people have low immunity and are vulnerable to viruses.
For example, the following study found:
People under stress, minor scratches take a day or two or more to heal;
A follow-up study of 17,415 professionals showed that stress predicted an 88% increase in heart attack rates;
The Netherlands conducted a 10-year long-term follow-up for middle-aged and elderly people, and found that the mortality rate of the bottom 25% of the optimistic level was 30% higher than that of the top 25%.
...
Everyone knows the autumn and sees the small things. It can be determined at present that learned helplessness will lead to:
weakened immunity, susceptible to diseases;
reduced cognitive abilities;
Accelerate aging and affect appearance;
Increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.
Do you think you should take this issue seriously?
So why did humans evolve learned helplessness? What experiences can trigger it? Will widespread learned helplessness arise? Can action be taken to address learned helplessness?