Lecture 8: Helplessness and happiness

Question 1

*Why did Seligman & Maier use a tripartite design?

their theory of learned helplessness is based on tripartite: motivational, cognitive, and emotional aspect

Answer 1

1. a role for contingency and not mere contiguity in earning
2. a role for cognitions in learning, behaviour, and motivation
3. its link to depression

Question 2

*What are the long term effects of uncontrollable stressors?

Answer 2

Obtain symptoms of depression (motivational, cognitive, emotional aspects)

Question 3

• What does Δp=0 mean?

Answer 3

when learned helplessness shows no relation between Response and Consequence

(Contingency learning)
[Probability that Y will occur after X - Probability that Y will not occur after X = 0]
When a response does not predict an outcome (or an outcome occurs without a response)

Question 4

*What are the different ways people attribute success or failure, and how does this affect helplessness or happiness?

Answer 4

Having more control -> less helplessness
--
attribute events by:
1. internal vs external
2. global vs. specific
3. permanent vs temporary

happiness comes from a life of meaning and engagement, not just satisfaction

1. pleasure/enjoyment (experiences)
2. engagement (immersing in activities)
3. meaning/affiliation (belonging to a group)

Question 5

*What are the major differences between ‘setpoint’ and utilitarian views of happiness?

Answer 5

Set point: disposition of our personalities
Utilitarian: work -> happiness
–
set-point theory of happiness:
- our disposition determines our happiness
- happiness is largely a stable, internal trait

Utilitarianism:

• individuals are motivated to maximize their utility (utility = satisfaction)
• happiness should be amenable to change if conditions are set so that people can maximize their utilty

Question 6

what is the contingency learning formula?

Answer 6

ΔP = p(Y/X) - p(Y/noX)

Question 7

People report a subjective feeling of control if:

Answer 7

1. Positive relation between response R and
   consequence C (behaviour can induce C)
2. Negative relation between response R and
   consequence C (behaviour can inhibit C)

Question 8

ΔP = p(C/R) - p(C/noR) > 0 means?

Answer 8

Positive relation	between	response  R	and	
consequence C (behaviour	can	induce C)

Question 9

ΔP = p(C/R) - p(C/noR)

Answer 9

Negative	relation	between	response  R	and	
consequence C (behaviour	can	inhibit C)

Question 10

experience with non-continngency interferes with learning about contingencies.

Answer 10

Learned Helpless

Question 11

State vc Trait happinesss

Answer 11

1. pleasure of the moment

2. subjective well-being

Question 12

What causes happiness?

Answer 12

1. Aristotle:
   a. hedonia (pleasure)
   b. eudaimonia (a life well-lived)
2. Modern:
   a. happiness is determined by stable internal factors
   b. happiness is determined by our external circumstances

Question 13

being happy

Answer 13

1. strong genetic contribution (identical twins vs fraternal twins)
2. happy events makes us happy (pleasant things, unplesant things happen to happy people also, and older people have fewer happy events because they’re less active)

Question 14

what is learned helplessness

Answer 14

experience with non-contingency interferes with learning about contingencies