Brief Summary
This video explores the concept of learned helplessness and how our brains can be trained to give up even when success is possible. It discusses the psychological experiments that revealed this phenomenon, the specific brain regions involved (dorsal rafi nucleus and medial prefrontal cortex), and how exerting control, even in seemingly hopeless situations, can alter our perception of reality and increase our chances of success.
- Learned helplessness can affect anyone, not just those with pervasive trauma.
- The dorsal rafi nucleus (DRN) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) play key roles in determining our perception of control and ability to succeed.
- Exerting control, even in small ways, can activate the MPFC, deactivate the DRN, and shift our perception from hopelessness to possibility.
Introduction
The video introduces the idea that our brains can be accidentally trained to give up even when success is attainable. It posits that when faced with challenges, our brains assess the situation and may incorrectly conclude that success is impossible, leading us to not even try. This is likened to gamers who give up easily, assuming defeat despite potential opportunities to win. The core question explored is how to determine if our brain's assessment of a situation is accurate or clouded by this learned helplessness.
How do we know if we can trust our own brains?
The key to discerning whether our brain's assessment is accurate lies in recognizing two specific thoughts: "This is not worth doing" and "Even if I tried, I wouldn't succeed." The video acknowledges skepticism about whether these thoughts always indicate an inaccurate assessment and promises to provide evidence through the psychology of learned helplessness. It expands on the idea that learned helplessness was originally associated with pervasive trauma, where individuals in situations lacking agency learn to carry that helplessness even when agency is restored.
Science and research
The video references experiments in the 1960s by Saligman involving dogs and electric shocks. In one scenario, dogs could escape the shocks by moving to safe tiles. In another, dogs received inescapable shocks regardless of their actions. Later, both groups were placed in a new scenario where they could jump over a hurdle to a safe area. The dogs that had previously experienced escapable shocks readily jumped to safety, while those that had experienced inescapable shocks remained passive and did not attempt to escape.
A change in the brain
The experiment revealed that inescapable shock caused a change in the brain, leading to learned helplessness. Further research showed this helplessness is trans-situational and trans-stimulus. This means that learning to be helpless in one situation can carry over to completely different situations and that punishment with electrical shock can lead to fear of fire or water. Even when escape is possible, the brain may decide to give up.
How do we affect the DRN
The video identifies the dorsal rafi nucleus (DRN) as a key brain region involved in learned helplessness. When the DRN is activated, it secretes serotonin, enhancing the perception of fear. Activating the DRN artificially in dogs that had learned to avoid shocks caused them to become helpless in a new situation where they could escape. Conversely, shutting off the DRN in dogs that had learned helplessness allowed them to overcome it and escape the shock. The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), responsible for executive function and willpower, shuts off the DRN when activated.
How do we disable the DRN?
The video explains that exerting some degree of control when facing a challenge is the key to activating the MPFC and disabling the DRN. Even futile attempts at control can have this effect. The video uses the example of a doctor who had a patient with metastatic stage 4 cancer. The patient's family was worried about him not eating, but the doctor knew that the amount of food he ate didn't matter. The family was exerting some kind of control, trying to do something in the face of a challenge that was unsolvable.
Determination of reality
The video emphasizes that our perception of reality is determined by our brain, and it's crucial to recognize when our brain is cognitively biased. The thoughts "it's not worth it" or "I'm doomed to fail" indicate DRN activation. Even when facing these thoughts, exerting some kind of control can shift our perception. The difference between professionals who succeed and those who don't lies in their response to hopeless situations: winners ask "what can I do?" and exert control, while others give up.
