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Learned helplessness and community development: A case study
Author(s) -
Gordon Adele
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(198510)13:4<327::aid-jcop2290130402>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - learned helplessness , subsistence agriculture , community development , psychology , work (physics) , gerontology , demographic economics , economic growth , geography , social psychology , medicine , economics , engineering , mechanical engineering , archaeology , agriculture
A community development program was implemented in the communities providing labor to a timber‐producing company in a rural area of South Africa. The program was preceded by a survey that compared the life‐styles and residential and work histories of residents in the different communities. The survey indicated that the degree of dependency on the company for facilities and services affected labor turnover and job advancement. Furthermore, community affairs were disorganized and, on average, income levels were below the Household Subsistence Level calculated for the area. The community development program was assessed over a 12‐month period. Participation in community affairs by the local residents increased considerably during this time. This increased level of participation is interpreted within the framework of an attributional analysis of the learned helplessness theory. Aspects of the theory appear to require modification and reformulation if they are to be applied successfully to a community setting.