American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam

The correct answer, learned helplessness, is a psychological theory that describes a state in which individuals come to believe that their efforts will have no effect on their situation, especially after experiencing repeated failures. This concept, developed by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the 1960s, posits that when a person perceives that they have no control over the outcomes of their efforts, they may eventually stop trying altogether, even when opportunities for success arise.

In the context of a child, if they face consistent failures with no apparent way to improve their situation, they may internalize the belief that they are destined to fail. This resignation can significantly impact their motivation, self-esteem, and overall mental health. Understanding learned helplessness is crucial in addressing issues such as low academic achievement or social withdrawal, as it allows caregivers and educators to implement strategies that can help restore a sense of agency and motivation in the child.

On the other hand, industry theory, often associated with Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages, focuses on the development of competence in children and how they perceive their abilities in relation to their peers. Cognition theory involves the mental processes of perception, memory, and reasoning, which are important but do not specifically address the perception of