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Learned Helplessness
Why Are the Filipinos Letting GMA Abuses Go Unpunished
by
Jun Lozada
One of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, Martin Seligman, observed a phenomenon called “Learned Helplessness“. He describes it as a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to act or behave helpless in a particular situation even when it has the power to change its unpleasant or even harmful circumstance. He conducted an experiment among dogs wherein subjects were confined in a very small place where they were given electric shocks and over which they had no control, that is, no matter what they did – struggling to break free, writhing in pain – they could not stop the electric shocks. Eventually, one by one, the subjects stopped struggling, then they stopped whimpering, then they just stopped reacting altogether when given additional electric shocks. But the most striking observation of the experiment was when the dogs were put in a larger space, where ordinarily they can move away from the electric shock and get relief. However, these dogs, previously confined and subjected to shocks, “learned” that they are powerless to stop the shock; they have come to believe that no matter how hard they tried, nothing they did would make a difference, so they stopped trying. They simply lay down and completely refused to move even though a few steps would have made all the difference in the world.
Are the Filipinos already afflicted with “Learned Helplessness” with the abuses of GMA ?
Is that why people are apathetic to the widespread corruption in our midst? Is it the reason why there seems to be no outpouring of collective outrage over the brazen abuses that the government of Gloria Arroyo has done against the people? Kaya ba karamihan ng mga nagdurusang Pilipino ay tanggap na lang nang tanggap ng karagdagang pagdurusa dahil “natutunan” na nila na kahit na anong gawin nilang pag-pupumiglas ay wala ring mangyayari sa kanila? Kahit pagnakawan sila ng bilyon-bilyong piso, kahit na sila ay itaboy na parang mga hayup sa kanilang tinitirhan at pinag-titindahan at kahit na kailangan na sila ay pumila para sa bigas sa ilalim ng init ng araw, at kahit sila ang magbabayad sa lahat na mga kinukurakot ng mga opisyal ng Malacanang sa pamamagitan ng mas mataas na buwis sa kanilang mga pangunahing bilihin katulad ng gasoline at pagkain? Kaya ba manhid na ang mga Pilipino sa pang-aabuso sa kanila?
Sana naman ay huwag, kundi ay sayang lamang ang lahat na dugo nina Ninoy, Mabini, Bonifacio, Rizal, Gomburza at Lapu Lapu, atbp.
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Well, if you have an electoral system that is tilted to favor the few ruling minority elites and the criminals in politicians clothing dictating the rules of the game the people indeed are reduced to experimental dogs………. just look at what is happening in Pampanga in a recall initiative to oust Gov. Ed Panlilio on Graft and Corruption charges, now that’s something for the book….. the book of the absurd and the perverse in a nation ruined by rulers whose vested selfish vested interest legitimate or illegitimate comes above anyone else……
Assuming that Filipinos are in state of learned helplessness that you mentioned what do you suggest they will do? It is not enough that you are aware of the problem, what are you going to do to solve the problem? Puro tayo dakdak ng dakdak wala naman tayong solusyon na maimumungkahi sa problema natin. People has gone frustrated w/ the political leaders of this country, maka-administration man o opposition. Puro salita wala namang gawa. Tulad mo, Jun. You have a part of the problem before, have you returned all the money that acquired illegally while working for the government? Umpisa muna sa iyo. Lead by example.
Welcome back.
No not really. I give the Filipino more credit for being a resilient species. Personally, speaking for myself. I just do not see the point in fighting a power as big as this. I am busy with our own survival to care about conceptual issues that have existed for so long. I know I shouldn’t but that is how I feel.
No offense Jun, your intentions are good but you are on the losing end. People like winners and fighters. Malakas ang kalaban tapos iiyak iyak ka sa likod ng mga madre.
In history, the people who can galvanize a nation and single handedly convince the collective to act are those who are not afraid - to physically die and get hurt.
It is a sad state of mind, that the Filipinos have come to learn. We are being trampled upon, and yet we do nothing about it ; we are being robbed, and allow it to continue; we are being made beggars, and we seem to love it…begging for more gooides; We are being duped, and yes, we know it, but have we done something about it?..None!; someone cried foul in all these harmful acts, what did we do? We Mocked him…..:
Pathetic really.
Has GOD forsaken us? I don’t think so. We still have time to be involved and right what is wrong.
We can not simply wait for the priests…led by Cardinal Rosales (as he himself said…LET IT BE, what Gloria is doing to us…) are you out of your mind Cardinal?
If we allow Gloria to squander our wealth and leave us in great debt, I don’t think I could allow that to happen. Now if the Filipinos would LET THAT BE, then Filipinos are fools who have mastered the art of LEARNED HELPLESSNESS.
I encourage us all to fight. MY PHILIPPINES, DESERVE A BETTER LEADER THAN GLORIA!
Ohhh… Welcome Back Jun Lozada….
Oh stfu Ken Kashi. You are not even using a real name. You are prolly an artist not a political analyst. So, please sh@t the hell up because you do not know what you are talking about. Gloria may not be a good leader but the sovereign people of the Republic of the Philippines elected her. If you do not believe that then burn the fscking Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Pathetic? What’s pathetic are the people hiding behind FAKE JAPANESE NAMES urging subversion of authority. If you do not believe in the Philippine Judicial System then go back to Japan and dance there. Malamang yun lang alam mong gawin.
Welcome back! Looking forward to more post.
Why did you erase my posts? Don’t you want to hear or read posts that are contrary to your views? I said, so what if you’re back? Who do you think you are? Nora Aunor? I am not interested in personalities here, I am interested in issues. So, what can you offer to the Filipino people assuming they are in state of learned helplessness? Revolt against this government? How will you go about it?
If you really advocate good ideals for the Filipino, why do you have to delete posts which could be contrary to yours, Mr. Lozada. I have posted about 5 messages already in your blog, all of them are deleted. It shows you cannot tolerate the opinion of others if they are against you and you talk about freedom. That’s hypocrisy in the first order.
ROBERT R. PROVINE
Psychologist and Neuroscientist, University of Maryland; Author, Laughter
Things Could Always Be Worse
Things could always be worse. Is this a cause for optimism? And if so, is this a form of optimism worth having — a wimpy, agnostic, non-committal, damn-with-faint-praise kind of optimism? Quite the contrary. It’s a rough-and-ready, rustic kind of optimism. This optimism is suited for everyday life and doesn’t fold under pressure. We have all heard of the “grass is greener” syndrome. This is its “grass is browner” counterpart, the achievable anecdote for broken dreams, and bolster of the status quo.
Psychophysics — the study of the psychological impact of physical events — indicates that more is not always better, and that greener grass, once acquired, quickly starts to yellow. We keep order in our lives because two inches always seem twice as long as one inch, but unlike length, other sensations do not grow in a linear manner. A tone, for example, must be much more than twice as powerful as a standard to sound twice as loud. As with tones, the quirks of our brain doom a path to happiness based on the accumulation of stuff. The second million dollars, like the second Ferrari, does not equal the satisfaction provided by the first, and a second Nobel is pretty much out of the question, a dilemma of past laureates. Goals once obtained become the new standard, to which we adapt, before continuing our race up the escalating, slippery slope of acquisitiveness and fame. Philosophers and scientists from antiquity to the present generally agree that life is a marathon, not a sprint, and the formula for happiness and well-being is the journey — not achievement of the goal — and the comfort of friends and family.
This brings me back to my proposal, “things could always be worse.” It finesses our biologically determined law of diminishing returns and the impossibility of keeping up with the Joneses. Lacking the understated nobility of “we have nothing to fear, but fear itself,” my slogan would not lift the spirits of a depression-era nation, serve a candidate seeking political office, nor provide a philosophy of life, but it does help me to slog on. Best of all, my modest proposal is unconditionally true for anyone healthy enough to understand it. When things take a nasty turn, as they often do, celebrate the present and recite my slogan —”things could always be worse.”
Many of us here have been trying to find solutions to the problems we are facing as a country. But a lot of people here have failed to realize that THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE ARE THE ONES WHICH CONCERN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. We have to address that first if we want to get anywhere positive.
“But SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) KJV
The two BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COUNTRY are these: IGNORANCE OF GOD’S LAWS and DELIBERATE DISREGARD OF GOD’S LAWS.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6) KJV
We can’t plan anything that will oust the government (GMA’s or whoever next occupies Malacanang). We can’t be praying or wishing that Gloria dies. We can’t be joining organizations that plan to overthrow the government. Those are the wrong moves to take. Why? Because it goes against God’s word!
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE RESISTETH THE POWER, RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD: AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION.” (Romans 13:1-2) KJV
Let’s read more of Romans 13, shall we…?
“FOR RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO THE EVIL…” (Romans 13:3)KJV
And….
“Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…..Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.” (Romans 13:8,10) KJV
How can we be loving to our neighbors - THAT INCLUDES GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO- if we wish for their downfall? Remember, love is not doing anything to hurt others.
“But I say unto you which hear, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THEM WHICH HATE YOU, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU….AND AS YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE ALSO TO THEM LIKEWISE.” (Luke 6:27-28,31) KJV
I’m not saying GMA and other people in positions of power have done nothing wrong. But to the bloggers here who are quick to condemn these people- I ask you: Have you done nothing wrong in your lives? Are you sinless?
The reason these people(and everyone else ignorant of the TRUTH) do unimaginable evils is because they’re possessed by the devil! Why do I say that? Because these people HAVE NOT HEARD THE TRUE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST(Ignorance or blatant disregard of God’s laws) and THEY DON’T HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD(Ignorance or blatant disregard of God’s laws)
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. NOW IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.” (Romans 8:9) KJV
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, BEING IGNORANT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:2-4) KJV
Our Dearest Jesus HAS COMMANDED US to do good to all peoples, even our enemies. Besides giving them food to eat, water to drink, being kind and understanding toward them, there’s something that we can do that is by far, THE BEST THING, we can do for others. What is this thing? Preach to them the TRUE Gospel of Our Dearest Jesus. To share with them the TRUTH.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: and lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) KJV
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:15-16) KJV
Praise the Lord! Alleluia!
well, oo nga talagang abuso na ang administrasyong GMA. paulit-ulit na nating naririnig yan. paulit-ulit na talaga. pero ano na ba nangyari sa ipinaglalaban mo mr. jun lozada? sa iyong magandang sinimulan? bakit naglaho na yata ang ningas ng apoy ng iyong mga taga-suporta at ang prinsipyong ipinaglalaban? dating laman ng lahat ng tabloid at pahayagan ang iyong pangalan at ipinaglalaban at akoy talagang umasa diyan. pero hindi kaya mas pinagtuunan na lang ng pansin ng mga kababayan natin ang pagbabalik ni gabby concepcion, pelikula ni richard at ni kc, o ang sunod-sunod na tagumpay nina manny “pac-man” pacquiao, charice pempengco, o si ariel pineda? o baka naman busy ang lahat sa pagpapaganda ng balat at minabuti na lang kumunsulta kay vicky belo? mabuti pa yata eh mailagay ang larawan sa billboard para laging sikat. ito yata ang mas sinasamba ng mga ating kababayan kesa mga bagay na may katuturan.
Pare ayaw mo makinig bakit patuloy kang nagpapagamit sa mga taong yan.
test
naku, mr. jun lozada mukhang hindi gumaganda ang mga kasunod na pangyayari. sabi ng CA hindi raw kidnapping ang nangyari sa yo. pano na yan? sino kaya ang paniniwalaan ngayon ng mga usyosong taong bayan. ang marami sa ating mga pilipino ay mahilig lamang sa mga uso, fad, in or haka-haka. subalit ang tunay na saloobin at pinaglalaban ay kulang sa sinseridad. kadalasan, kung merong kontrobersiya na nauuso at pinagkakaguluhan, ang nakararami ay parang sinisilihan ang mga puwit para lang pumapel o magbigay ng matatalino at kahanga-hangang opinion. mahilig magpapasok ang nakararami subalit pag dating na sa seryosohan at aktual na labanan ay eto ang kanilang kadalasang katwiran.
“bahala kayo sa buhay nyo, basta ako bahala sa sarili ko”.
kumbaga sa sasakyan, magaling lang sa arangkada pero walang binatbat sa rekta. hindi kaya ganito ang nangyari sa iyong kaso? sa dinami-dami ng sumuporta sa yo nung umpisa, bayan, madre, pari, pulitiko, celebrities, artista, media at kung sino-sino pang mahilig pumapel sa uso ay mukhang bigla na lang nawala. hindi bale, panalo ka pa rin. alam mo kung bakit, dahil kailan lang ay nasira ang pangalan ng dating pinagpipitagan at iginagalang na Court of Appeals. sira na ang papel nila ngayon at tulad mo, nalagay din sila sa uso, usap-usapan at kontrobersiya. mas okey ngayon ang kaso mo dahil ang court of appeals eh walang kuwenta sa ngayon so hindi rin maniniwala ang taong bayan anupaman ang kanilang maisulat na desisyon sa kaso mong kidnapping. ganito ang maganda sa ating inang bayan. sa tindi ng graft and corruption, hindi mo na malaman kung sino ang iyong paniniwalaan at pagkakatiwalaan.
Nagattaka lang ako kung bakit yung 2 posted comments ko, di lumalabas. Pero yung mga anti Jun lumalabas, di kaya mina maniubra ito ng mga galamay ni Gloria na huwag lumabas ang mga comments? pero yung” test” lumabas!!!
Re CA decision, nagtataka ka pa ba???? we all know there are no court “justices” in the Philippines. Lahat sila hawak ng ating Secretary of Injustice. Puro takot, at walang paninindigan. Di na nahiya magpatawag ng “your honor”.
reply to bernadette:
tama ka diyan bernadette. napansin ko nga rin tinatanggal yung comment pag di nila type. ewan ko ba kung anong dahilan. may post ako na nakapasok but the next day wala na. wala naman akong sinabing masama. sana basta totoo wag na nilang i-censor he he he….
Yung 2 comments ko nawala, ako pa naman ang nag 1st 2 post dito sa Blog.
Just wanted to have details on his Alleged kidnappin…
But, here I go and post the questions.
I hope sagutin ito at wag burahin ng MOD…
On your kidnapping…
Regarding your celphone. Did it have load, signal, I assume it’s a postpaid phone.
Was it taken from you?
Did the police insisted to refrain from using your phone?
Who did you call on your celphone?
Why didn’t you call your wife?
Ngayon mukhang hindi na maiinit ang issue sa ZTE, todo pa rin ba ang supporta sa iyo ng Opposition at Moral Groups?
Nandyan pa din ba ang bodyguards mo?
How’s your Sanctuary fund?
GO JUN!!! GO JUN!!
I BELIEVE IN YOU!
mr. jun lozada,
im a student in a prestigious university that you have once visited, and although not all of the students there believe in what you say, there are obviously A LOT who want to KNOW the truth. Dont lose hope, because eventhough there are other political issues which somehow “keep” you from fighting for the truth, they still justify your stand— GMA is corrupt and a liar. IF SHE IS NOT, how would one explain the increasing rate of poverty, Joc- Joc volante’s issue, Garci’s scandal, and the very recent EURO GENERALS scandal. I strongly believe there are a lot more. The people are suffering, while GMA gets evrything she is not deserving to have. Thats why, the FILIPINO PEOPLE NEED YOU. gather up your courage and dont be afraid to fight.
i, in return, will do my very best to excel in my studies and be a good citizen of the Philippines. Someday, the truth will come out and we will all get the chance to experience the SWEET victory that you, me and (especially the Filipino people), have been longing for.
PS: don’t be afraid to cry, even in front of the media people. Because crying DOES NOT make you look weak… Keeping the truth does.
Isa ako sa naniniwala po sa inyo. I do believe in the pureness of your heart and your advocacy - kokonti na lang po talaga tulad niyo.
Welcome back po. ^_^
Magtatanong lang ako sa inyo Jun. Kristiyano ka na bang talaga? Ibig kong sabihin meron ka na bang personal na relasyon kay Jesus bilang Panginoon at Tagapagligtas? Personal, spirirtual experience ang ibig kong sabihin. Pero kung relihiyon lamang ang tinutukoy mo, hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin. Huwag mo na sanang gamitin pa ang pangalan ng Diyos sa
walang kabuluhan dahil sa iyo lamang iyon babalik… You are spiritually empty, jun, your heart is full of emptiness.. You have a religion but with no power to change people. Sorry to say, ang mga nakaupo sa gobyerno ay karamihan, kundi man lahat, katoliko pero sinasabi mong corrupt at ikaw ay Catholic din. And many catholic countries are corrupt. In fact, the greatest corruption is in the Catholic Church - indulgences, kaya nga nag-alsa si Luther e. Ganoon pa rin naman ngayon. At isa pa, nabanggit mo na rin si Dr. Rizal, ang tinuligsa ni Rizal ay kasamaan at hypocrisy ng mga prayleng Kastila o pari di ba? The priests hated him that’s why they killed him. Yet, Rizal did not instigate rebellion, he doesn’t want it…
Sumisigaw tayo ng pagbabago pero ang sarili naman natin di pa rin nababago. This is the truth. Paano natin babaguhin ang iba???
Nakakalungkot na mabilis ang mga paring katoliko sa pagbatikos sa gobyerno at pagdating sa politika pero pagdating sa mga bagay na espiritwal ay bagsak sila kaya marami nang umaalis sa simbahan. The Catholic priests have failed to give spiritual foundation to catholics kaya ganito tayo. The priests must be the one to repent first dahil sila ang mananagot sa Diyos sa mga itinuturo nila sa mga tao at sa pag-iimpluwensiya nila sa mga tao na mag-alsa laban sa mga ordained institutions na itinatag ng Diyos (Romans 13). Thay had twisted the Word of God to suit them at what the people like to do.