The Seminal Career of Martin Seligman
: The Seminal Career of Martin Seligman
Steven F. Maier, Christopher Peterson, and Barry Schwartz
University of Colorado, University of Michigan, and Swarthmore College
This book explores a specific field of psychological research, but it also celebrates the profound contributions to this field of Martin E. P. Seligman.
Therefore, the book blends the history of this research enterprise and Seligman 's own intellectual history. This chapter reviews the modest origins of the phenomenon of "learned helplessness" in the animal laboratory, its extensions to human beings (especially those displaying dramatic failures of adaptation), and its eventual emergence as "learned optimism." The remainder of the book documents two major themes. First, the insights arising out of research on learned helplessness have been extended to almost every domain of modern psychology. And second Seligman has played a significant role in almost all of these extensions. In fact, this book makes a fitting tribute to the man whose fingerprints appear on every chapter.
Although the research discussed in this book focuses on optimism and hope, the research story does not begin there. Rather, it begins with the opposite end of the pole—helplessness. As will become apparent Seligman is now a strong proponent of the development of a positive psychology, but the historic, intellectual seeds of the view that underlies this new emphasis are very much in negative psychology. The critical first step in thinking that made this development possible was an appreciation of the negative consequences of the inability to control important environmental events. It is this inability that produces the learned helplessness phenomenon.
Maier, Peterson, & Schwartz 2
The history of research on learned helplessness and learned optimism as well as Seligman 's own involvement in these areas reflects a large element of chance. Furthermore, the development of research in this area also
Steven F. Maier, Christopher Peterson, and Barry Schwartz
University of Colorado, University of Michigan, and Swarthmore College
This book explores a specific field of psychological research, but it also celebrates the profound contributions to this field of Martin E. P. Seligman.
Therefore, the book blends the history of this research enterprise and Seligman 's own intellectual history. This chapter reviews the modest origins of the phenomenon of "learned helplessness" in the animal laboratory, its extensions to human beings (especially those displaying dramatic failures of adaptation), and its eventual emergence as "learned optimism." The remainder of the book documents two major themes. First, the insights arising out of research on learned helplessness have been extended to almost every domain of modern psychology. And second Seligman has played a significant role in almost all of these extensions. In fact, this book makes a fitting tribute to the man whose fingerprints appear on every chapter.
Although the research discussed in this book focuses on optimism and hope, the research story does not begin there. Rather, it begins with the opposite end of the pole—helplessness. As will become apparent Seligman is now a strong proponent of the development of a positive psychology, but the historic, intellectual seeds of the view that underlies this new emphasis are very much in negative psychology. The critical first step in thinking that made this development possible was an appreciation of the negative consequences of the inability to control important environmental events. It is this inability that produces the learned helplessness phenomenon.
Maier, Peterson, & Schwartz 2
The history of research on learned helplessness and learned optimism as well as Seligman 's own involvement in these areas reflects a large element of chance. Furthermore, the development of research in this area also
References: Abramson, L. Y., Metalsky, G. I., & Alloy, L. B. (1989). Hopelessness depression: A theory-based subtype of depression Abramson, L. Y., Seligman, M. E. P., & Teasdale, J. D. (1978). Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation Anisman, H., Zalcman, S., Shanks, N., & Zacharlo, R. M. (1991). Basoglu, M., & Mineka, S. (1992). The role of uncontrollable and unpredictable stress in post-traumatic stress response in torture survivors. Bracewell, R. J., & Black, A. H. (1974). The effects of restraint and noncontingent pre-shock on subsequent escape learning in the rat Buchanan, G. M., & Seligman, M. E. P. (Eds.) (1995). Explanatory style. Cronbach, L. J. (1957). The two disciplines of scientific psychology. Davies, M., Stankov, L., & Roberts, R. D. (1998). Emotional intelligence: Maier, Peterson, & Schwartz 29 Dykema, K., Bergbower, K., Doctora, J. D., & Peterson, C. (1996). An Attributional Style Questionnaire for general use Hiroto, D. S., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Generality of learned helplessness in man Jackson, R. L., Alexander, J. H., & Maier, S. F. (1980). Learned helplessness, inactivity, and associative deficits: Effects of inescapable shock on Lee, R. K. K., & Maier, S. F. (1988). Inescapable shock and attention to internal versus external cues in a water escape discrimination task Maier, S. F. (1970). Failure to escape traumatic shock: Incompatible skeletal motor response or learned helplessness Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1976). Learned helplessness: Theory and evidence Maier, S. F., Seligman, M. E. P., & Solomon, R. (1969). Pavlovian fear conditioning and learned helplessness Maswood, S., Barter, J. E., Watkins, L. R., & Maier, S. F. (1998 in press). Miller, G. A. (1969). Psychology as a means of promoting human welfare. American Psychologist, 24, 1063-1075. Miller, W. R., Rosellini, R. A., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1977). Learned helplessness and depression Minor, T. R., Jackson, R. L., & Maier, S. F. (1984). Effects of task irrelevant cues and reinforcement delay on choice escape learning following inescapable Overmier, J. B. (1968). Interference with avoidance behavior: Failure to avoid traumatic shock Overmier, J. B., & Leaf, R. C. (1965). Effects of discriminative Pavlovian fear conditioning upon previously or subsequently acquired avoidance Overmier, J. B., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1967). Effects of inescapable shock on subsequent escape and avoidance behavior Peterson, C. (1991). Meaning and measurement of explanatory style. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1984). Causal explanations as a risk factor for depression: Theory and evidence Peterson, C., Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1993). Learned helplessness: A theory for the age of personal control Peterson, C., Schulman, P., Castellon, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1992). Peterson, C., & Ulrey, L. M. (1994). Can explanatory style be scored from TAT protocols? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 20, 102-106. Peterson, C., & Villanova, P. (1988). An expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire Petty, F., Kramer, G., & Moeller, M. (1994). Does learned helplessness induction by Haloperidol involve serotonin mediation? Pharmacology, Reivich, K. (1995). The measurement of explanatory style. In G. M. Rescorla, R.A. (1967). Pavlovian conditioning and its proper control procedures Rotter, J. B. (1954). Social learning and clinical psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external