Learned helplessness means a state in which people conclude that unpleasant or aversive stimuli cannot be controlled – a view of the world that becomes so ingrained that they cease trying to remedy the aversive circumstances, even of they actually can exert some influence.
Learned helplessness is the idea that animals and people who have previously been in a situation where they could not avoid being punished learn that they are helpless, and continue to react passively to being punished even when they do in fact have the power to avoid the punishment.