Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death

"Depression is the common cold of psychopathology and has touched the lives of us all," writes Dr. Martin Seligman. But the emotional distresses that lead to depression, anxiety, and failure do not "just happen." Instead, as Dr. Seligman shows, these widespread disorders often grow out of a sense of helplessness that is learned, reinforced, and justified by the individual.