Learned Helplessness and Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders: Deprivation in the Classroom

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) are characterized by academic deficits and classroom behavioral problems. The relationship between problem behavior and academic difficulties is complex, and some researchers have hypothesized that the classroom behavior problems of students with E/BD are responses to aversive stimuli, namely ineffective academic instruction and/or difficult tasks. The authors suggest that learned helplessness might further explain some of the academic and behavioral deficits that characterize students with E/BD. In this article, the authors review the negative reinforcement cycle posited by Gunter and colleagues, discuss learned helplessness as it relates to the academic and social deficits of students with E/BD, review relevant research, and discuss implications for practice and research.