The Reformulated Learned Helplessness Theory: A Review and Investigation

Abstract

The reformulated learned helplessness (RLH) theory and its associated construct of explanatory style have been extensively tested against variables such as depression, short term health, and achievement, particularly since a measure of explanatory style, the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ), was developed in 1982. Despite being extensively investigated, results can only be best described as mixed and inconclusive. It is argued that this is because: (a) the internality dimension of explanatory style is poorly defined and the items within the ASQ written to measure internality are not reliable or valid; (b) the ASQ itself has not been demonstrated to have structural validity, and (c) the definition of explanatory style in the literature is not uniform. For this reason, a series of seven studies was conducted in order to address these weaknesses. Specifically, three aims were nominated, including (a) to develop a valid and reliable measure of all dimensions of explanatory style, (b) to establish the construct validity of the new measure of explanatory style against variables already investigated in this line of research (depression, short term health, and achievement), and (c) to extend the RLH theory to novel variables, using the new measure of explanatory style.