Learned Helplessness aka Societal Conditioning

 

Learned Helplessness in Everyday Life

The 5 Monkeys Experiment

Let’s dive into a powerful psychological experiment. Five monkeys are confined in a cage, with a banana tantalizingly placed atop a ladder in the center. Whenever one monkey attempts to reach for the banana, all five receive a cold shower. Soon, a profound shift occurs: whenever any monkey tries for the banana, the others pull it back. This creates a chilling equilibrium where, despite the irresistible temptation, none dare to approach the banana.

Then, a new monkey is introduced—unaware of the shock. It boldly climbs the ladder, yet the original four prevent it from reaching the banana, even though it has yet to experience the punishment. As more monkeys are swapped out for newcomers, this oppressive behavior continues, until all five are replaced. Now, there’s no shock, just a group of monkeys wandering aimlessly, oblivious to why they don't pursue the banana. If asked, they’d likely say, “That’s just how things are done here.”

This phenomenon, known in psychology as learned helplessness, illustrates how societal conditioning ensnares us. Below is a video that visualizes this concept.

Learned Helplessness in action

Case Study: Sati

Consider the tragic social evil of Sati, where widows would leap into their husbands' funeral pyres. The origins of this practice are rooted in deep societal conditioning. Historically, husbands often went to war and perished, leaving widows vulnerable to exploitation and violence. The cold shower in this context was the brutal reality faced by these women.

The equilibrium became one where dying in the fire was perceived as more honorable than facing the horrors of survival. Even after the threat of violence subsided, the practice remained entrenched. Just like the monkeys, society accepted this horrific act, believing, “That’s just how things are done.”

Conditioning Affects Everyone

I believe that we enter this world with pure potential and a blank slate of thought. Yet, from birth to death, our minds are polluted by societal conditioning. This conditioning shapes our limitations and boundaries, obscuring our access to infinite potential. If we equate our pure state of mind to a universal program, society's conditioning distorts this innate programming. We find ourselves mentally shackled, navigating a world filled with others who are equally blinded.

Why does this happen? That’s a question for later. If you recognize that your thinking has diverged from your genuine childhood state, you need a powerful logic to cut through this conditioning. Imagine this logic as a bridge leading you back to your pure state of mind—a realm where simple joys spark genuine happiness.

To traverse this bridge, you must engage in profound thought. However, your operating program is flawed, leading to a vicious cycle of conditioned reasoning. This seems like an endless loop with no escape.

But what if I discovered this transformative logic? After a decade of deep reflection and unique experiences, I’ve crafted a theory. Why me? Pure luck led me to insights that challenge conventional thinking. While I can’t share the entire theory here—given its complexity and potential to overwhelm—I will present key elements relevant to a broader audience.

Returning to the monkey experiment: if someone were to convince the new monkeys that the banana is within reach, they’d experience immense internal resistance. Similarly, as I share these ideas, I anticipate that you will resist these notions. Approach my insights with skepticism, analyze them, and draw your own conclusions.

In my next post, I will dissect five critical everyday decisions and how to optimize them:

1. How many times should you brush your teeth daily?
2. How many hours should you sleep each night?
3. Is smoking detrimental to your life? What’s a safe number of cigarettes daily?
4. How can you determine if your partner is truly ideal for you?
5. What are the principles for running a successful business?

This discussion is becoming lengthy, so for those genuinely interested, continue with my next post, where I will break down the fundamentals of my theory for practical application in your daily life. Click the link below.

The Gutmeter Framework