Final answer:
The statement a person with learned helplessness might say is 'No matter what I tried, nothing seemed to work.' This condition involves a perception of lack of control and is linked to depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of learned helplessness refers to a state in which an individual believes that they have no control over the outcome of events, leading to passivity and a cessation of attempts to change their situation. This psychological state is commonly linked to attributions that contribute to feelings of helplessness and can result in depression. The direct answer to which statement a person experiencing learned helplessness might say is: 'No matter what I tried, nothing seemed to work.' This reflects the perceived uselessness of their efforts and aligns with the theory articulated by Seligman and his colleagues.
Learned helplessness was first demonstrated through experiments with dogs that were subjected to inescapable shocks and later did not attempt to escape when given the chance. These findings have been extrapolated to humans, suggesting that when people experience uncontrollable negative life events and attribute them to internal, stable, and global causes, they are more likely to feel helpless and ultimately may become depressed. It's important to note that these attribution styles can be changed with practice, reducing the susceptibility to depression.