What Martin Seligman has said about Learned helplessness
2 quotes · 1 episode · Oct 24, 2026
Martin Seligman, Psychologist known for learned helplessness research, author of a forthcoming book on agency, has been quoted on Learned helplessness 2 times in 1 episode of Modern Wisdom, most recently on October 24, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Seligman reports that only about five of eight subjects exposed to uncontrollable events became helpless, and the resistant ones were optimists.
“three out of every eight people, three out of every eight animals didn't become helpless. I tried to sweep that under the rug”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 6:42
Seligman says that traumatic events subjects could control actually left them better off than controls.
“the very first hint of efficacy, agency, and mastery was that traumatic events that you can do something about are actually energizing”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 4:23
Episodes
Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167Modern Wisdom · Oct 24, 2026 · 1 h 21 min
Chris Williamson talks with psychologist Martin Seligman about learned helplessness, optimism, his new book Agency, AI and creativity, and the Axial Age.
Martin Seligman on other topics
- Agency (Martin Seligman book) · 3 quotes
- Artificial intelligence · 2 quotes
- Optimism · 2 quotes
- Positive psychology · 2 quotes
- What You Can Change and What You Can't · 1 quote
- Dreaming · 1 quote
- 2024 United States presidential election · 1 quote
- Consciousness · 1 quote