Learned Helplessness
A person or an animal with learned helplessness feels helpless and unable to control a given situation. This is usually the result of experiencing repeated negative events which lead to a belief that their actions will be futile.
In India, when elephant trainers catch a baby elephant, they tie its legs with a rope to a post. This baby elephant will struggle for days trying to break free and it eventually gives up when it learns that it’s useless. When it grows up these trainers keep it tied using the same rope and even though it’s now strong enough to break free and escape the elephant stands around waiting for the trainers because it’s learned that it’s meaningless. This elephant has developed learned helplessness. Despite having the power to change its situation, it’s learned to feel helpless instead because of the past experience.
What’s your mental rope?