Learned Helplessness, External Locus of Control, and Passivity in Battered Women

The present study was designed to examine learned helplessness in battered women. Based on Walker's (1979) theory of learned helplessness and battered women, it was predicted that battered women would (1) have poorer problem-solving skills, (2) have a more external locus of control, and (3) be more passive than nonbattered women. Multivariate analysis of variance conducted on scores for the dependent measures indicated that battered women did exhibit significantly poorer problem-solving skills and were more passive with their partners than nonbattered women. There was no difference between the groups on general passivity or external locus of control. These findings were discussed in relation to the learned helplessness theory of battered women and research involving problem-solving deficits.