Child Life Certification Practice Test 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The development of learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon where an individual, after experiencing repeated failures or ineffective coping experiences, begins to feel a lack of control over their environment. This often results in a belief that their actions lead to failure, which can subsequently inhibit their ability to engage effectively with challenges. In children, this can manifest as passivity, withdrawal from activities, and an overall decreased motivation to tackle new challenges or difficulties.

Children who face ongoing stressors or repeated setbacks without experiencing success may internalize the belief that their efforts do not lead to positive outcomes. This mindset can inhibit their problem-solving abilities and coping strategies, leading to a sense of helplessness in challenging situations. Recognizing and addressing learned helplessness is crucial for child life specialists and caregivers, as it can significantly affect a child's emotional and psychological well-being.

The other options, while related to stress and coping in some way, do not specifically characterize the syndrome that arises from repeated ineffective coping experiences in the same manner as learned helplessness does. For instance, resilience refers to the ability to recover from difficulties and adapt well, which contrasts with the feelings of helplessness and lack of control experienced in learned helplessness.