Final answer:
Learned helplessness is a psychological condition where an individual repeatedly exposed to uncontrollable events learns to behave helplessly, which can lead to job burnout and depression. It was initially described by Martin Seligman and has been discussed regarding ethical considerations in its application.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feeling helpless after leaving sessions with particular clients is referred to as learned helplessness. This is a condition wherein an individual has encountered certain situations repeatedly that they perceive as uncontrollable and thus, learn to behave helplessly. Originally developed by psychologist Martin Seligman, the theory of learned helplessness illustrates how a lack of control over one's environment can lead to a passive acceptance of negative situations, akin to those observed in human depression. Learned helplessness can lead to job burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of ineffectiveness, commonly experienced by professionals in human service jobs such as social workers and therapists.
Experiencing little positive feedback from jobs, dealing with unsafe work environments, frustration with bureaucracy, excessive paperwork, a strong sense of personal responsibility for clients, and work overload can all reinforce the sensation of helplessness. The phenomenon has also been studied for its ethical considerations and misuse, particularly in cases like the torture of prisoners, which amplified the sense of helplessness to promote compliance.