Two cognitive models of depression have attracted considerable attention recently: Seligman's (1975) learned helplessness model and Beck's (1967) cognitive schema approach. Describes each model and, in two studies, evaluates the assumption that depression is associated with systematic distortion in cognition regarding causal and controlling…

The learned helplessness model of depression predicts that any effective treatment for reactive depression should also reverse performance deficits associated with experimentally induced helplessness, and vice versa. This study tests that prediction with college students who were exposed to experimental manipulations designed to induce…

Developed control enhancing interventions to increase level of perceived control and well-being of older adults living in retirement communities. Program participants (N=29) experienced significant increases in their perceived level of control and overall functioning whereas control group participants (N=34) did not. Results suggest that some…

Subjects with long standing disabilities ranked disabilities on a scale of fortunate to unfortunate. Subjects tended to rank themselves as more fortunate (and therefore less disabled) than individuals with other types of disabilities, unlike nondisabled or recently disabled persons. The results suggest adaptation to disability after the remission…

The study involving 28 educationally handicapped (EH) and 25 learning disabled LD/EH children (mean ages 13 and 12 years) included among its results that EH Ss took significantly more personal responsibility for academic failure than did LD/EH Ss; EH Ss attributed success to ability but failure to both lack of ability and lack of effort.…

Investigated sex differences on the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale using factor analysis of student scores (N=194). Three factors emerged for females and five for males. Comparison with other studies shows item consistency on the first two factors which were the same for both sexes. (Author/JAC)

Surveys 33 developmental studies using 12 different locus of control scales in the effort to learn how perceived internal control changes with age. A few studies show developmental declines in perceived control, about half show consistent developmental increases, and about half show mixed results or no significant developmental differences.…

A literature review reveals that learning disabled children are more likely than normal achievers to attribute successes, but not failures, to external factors. The implications of locus of control for the field of learning disabilities are discussed in terms of its relation to academic achievement, learned helplessness, and remediation programs.…

The results in this experiment identified both partial and continuous reinforcement as efficacious procedures for reversing learned helplessness in college students. The partial success therapy schedule produced greater response persistence in escape extinction following therapy. The framework for a new therapy technique, persistence training, is…

Identifies behaviors exhibited by students who are victims of learned helplessness and discusses the application of coaching techniques to teach these students to take control of their learning. Details the components of coaching, including active student participation, small sequential learning units, corrective feedback, and attention-getting…

Two experiments were conducted to examine the role of sex differences in learned helplessness in the generalization of failure experience. Subjects in experiment 1 were fifth graders and subjects in experiment 2 were fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. (MP)

Gotlib and Asarnow suggest that learned helplessness may not adequately model clinical depression. They reply to Rohsenow's criticism that Gotlib and Asarnow's conclusions are unwarranted because the null hypothesis is not demonstrated by a single study and because adequate diagnostic criteria are not presented. (Author/BEF)

Notes that incorporation of stress management within counseling process requires a theoretical framework for examining clients' perceptions of their coping capabilities as they experience difficulty with stressful life events. Presents framework based on learned helplessness, called systematic rationalization. Discusses empirical support and…

Assesses an intervention model for reducing fear of criminal violence among the African American elderly. Senior citizens (n=31) participated in four crime prevention workshops. Eighty-three percent, as compared with 68% before the workshops, reported feeling safe at home at night. Significant posttest correlations were noted for posttest fear of…

Examined the connection between chronic residential crowding and student adjustment, academic achievement, vulnerability to learned helplessness, blood pressure, and parent-child relationship in 10- to 12-year olds in urban India. Found that crowding was positively associated with blood pressure only among boys, and with learned helplessness only…