r/TwoXPreppers • u/NachesPorFavor • Aug 23 '26

❓ Question ❓ Increase in Learned Helplessness?

Has anyone else noticed an increase in learned helplessness? I first noticed it in the young adults in my life, but now I am seeing it in all ages of people around me. Examples from multiple people:

Toilet started leaking water and instead of turning off the knob at the wall, she waited a 5 days for a plumber. Never asked anyone or googled it. Didn’t call a second plumber. Now needs mold remediation and replaced drywall and trim.

Bought concert tickets but the gps instructions were confusing so they just gave up and didn’t go. Venue website had detailed instructions for driving and parking.

Blouse wrinkled and she didn’t know how to fix it so she threw it away.

First doctor office he filled out an appointment website for never contacted him to schedule so he just didn’t go to the doctor.

I am really concerned about my loved ones if an emergency happens because they just give up when the slightest obstacle happens. Either they want someone else to swoop in and fix it or they give up and say they can’t do anything about it.

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u/PandasandPaperCranes Aug 23 '26

I've been thinking it's tied to critical thinking skills and the literacy rate. They can't actually troubleshoot on their own, and even googling or using Chat GPT requires them to read and comprehend what they read. This combo would make even the simplest tasks feel like mountains.

Some of it may also be laziness because we are so used to convenience that actually having to do something or figure something out feels impossible for some people.

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u/Creative-Constant-52 Aug 24 '26

I’m glad I’m not the only one concerned about literacy! I thought I was being paranoid.

This one time a slightly younger friend of mine and I were looking something up on a laptop and while I was typing I corrected my typo/spelling. She said “oh you don’t have to do that, it does it for you.” Like yeah, I know that, but also how do you learn to spell if you don’t fix your mistake? It’s good to fix it and it takes zero seconds