Definitionv1
Learned helplessness: the neurological and behavioral
Learned helplessness: the neurological and behavioral default response that develops when repeated boundary violations consistently fail to produce protective outcomes, resulting in the abandonment of boundary-setting attempts even when control becomes possible
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely defines 'learned helplessness' in the curriculum context by identifying its genus (default response) and differentia (developing from repeated boundary violation failures). It distinguishes it from general passivity by specifying its neurological basis and the mechanism of boundary-setting abandonment. The definition is precise enough to distinguish it from simple resignation or compliance and connects directly to the lesson's discussion of boundary enforcement failure.