Learned helplessness is best described as:

Learned helplessness is a psychological condition where individuals feel they have no control over their outcomes, often resulting from repeated exposure to stressful situations or failure that leads them to believe that their actions do not impact their circumstances. This feeling of helplessness can affect motivation, learning, and emotional stability, making it difficult for individuals to take initiative or pursue tasks, even when opportunities for success exist.

The concept stems from research conducted by psychologists who observed that animals subjected to uncontrollable stressors exhibited passive and submissive behavior when faced with new challenges, reflecting a sense of resignation. In humans, when someone consistently encounters failures despite their efforts, they may internalize the belief that they are incapable of affecting change, thus developing a mindset of helplessness.

The other choices presented do not accurately capture the essence of learned helplessness. For instance, a state of independence and self-efficacy embodies control and belief in one's abilities, which contrasts sharply with the powerlessness central to learned helplessness. Additionally, a reactive state to positive reinforcement suggests that individuals are responding positively to rewards, which would not align with the feelings of defeat associated with learned helplessness. Lastly, successful problem-solving experiences foster a sense of achievement and agency, directly opposing the hopelessness characterizing learned helpless