Encouraging people to retain a sense of control over their lives is essential to for them to sustain a positive mindset.
Another study revealed that while an experimental group of infants easily learned to control the movements of a mobile with their head with pressure-sensitive pillows, the control group that was initially put in cribs with randomly turning mobiles took far longer to learn the skill, given that they had already 'learned' that they had no control over the actions of the revolutions of the toy, and that to try to have control was futile.
The dog study and subsequent research thus provides suggestions in terms of how to structure a care environment for the elderly, young, and sick. The studies should also stimulate self-consciousness on the part of the reader. Almost everyone has some sort of unproductive psychological defense mechanism, some of which may cause the perpetuation of unproductive ways of thinking and behaving. 'Learned helplessness' is a common human phenomenon that can result in people remaining in jobs that are not satisfying, staying in abusive relationships, or simply not taking an initiative when confronted with adversity. If individuals have little sense of autonomy early in life, this can lead to a lack of a willingness to try to control the environment and depression in the...
Many of the survivors of the World Trade Center attacks, for example, exhibited a kind of posttraumatic psychological growth, and learned from their experiences. Individuals who witnessed the events vicariously and suffered anxiety and depression seemed to show more exclusively negative symptoms. This suggests that they experienced the 'learned helplessness' effect. Unlike the people who escaped or provided aid, the witnesses felt helpless in the face of tragedy.
Giving aid to others can be psychologically beneficial for people during difficult times. Giving to others is not emotionally depleting. Being generous can actually be emotionally sustaining, and circumvent the 'learned helplessness' effect. In an increasingly difficult-to-control world, depression seems to be increasing, thus the results of this study can be useful in providing a solution to as well as identifying a problem. Taking action, even when it is unclear that the action will be successful, is more psychologically beneficial than simply passively enduring trauma or even a minor setback.
Work Cited
Hock, Roger. Forty studies that changed psychology: Explorations into the history of psychological research. 6th edition. New York: Prentice Hall, 2008.
