Homeless People
Homeless people are often accused of being lazy. However, the behaviorand attitude of the homeless may be easily attributed to the concept oflearned helplessness. First studied on animals, learned helplessnessexplains self-taught powerlessness in both humans and animals. Learnedhelplessness often arises out of repeated failed attempts at performing atask. The continual failure induces a sense of being incapable causes aperson to stop trying altogether. In the case of the homeless, this may
Manyhomeless people apply for jobs, but continually face rejection. However, a traumatic event mayhave left a person penniless. Hence, a homeless person becomes depressed. If aperson met with continual failure in school or early vocational situations,it could influence attitudes towards employment in later life. After aseries of such failed attempts, many homeless people cease trying to seekemployment and instead opt for a life on the streets. Getting laid off, losing a spouse, or fallingpray to an addiction are situations that exacerbate learned helplessnessand cause the vicious cycle of homelessness to continue. o with finding a job, networking with other people, maintainingmeaningful relationships, or seeking help or medical attention. Apathy and lack of motivation are symptoms of learned helplessness. Learnedhelplessness can also explain the passivity exhibited by homeless people. Perhaps the helplessness was learned in early childhood. Ifcircumstances are dire, a person may start to believe that failure is theonly possible outcome of any effort and that life has nothing positive tooffer. In manysituations, having no support system further contributes to the sense ofdespair and depression resulting from learned helplessness. In fact, some homeless people may have been at one time gainfullyemployed and viable members of a community. Except in cases when a person is mentally or physically ill, theconcept of learned helplessness can lend insight into the behavior of thehomeless.
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