Abstract
The present study investigated the relationship between the laboratory experience of learned helplessness and depressive responses on the Rorschach. 50 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either a learned-helplessness or nonlearned-helplessness condition. After completion of the experimental conditions, subjects were administered Rorschachs which were scored utilizing the Exner Comprehensive System. Student's t tests indicated significantly higher scores on the sum of all responses involving the use of shading and achromatic features (right-side eb) for the learned-helplessness subjects. According to Rorschach theory, these results suggest that subjects in a learned-helplessness condition experience a more painful affective state and tend to withdraw from their environment more than subjects experiencing a nonlearned-helplessness condition. This can be seen as a defense against experiencing more stress. These conclusions are discussed in the context of learned helplessness and reactive depression.