Examination of Psychological Distress in Ethnic Minorities From a Learned Helplessness Framework

The reformulated model of learned helplessness is used to examine psychological distress among ethnic minorities. After the basic and reformulated theories are presented, the helplessness sequence is illustrated in a case of a black male patient whose deficits were attributed to events involving racial discrimination. Locus of control and attributional styles are discussed in the context of minority mental health issues. An attributional style grid is proposed as a way in which the clinician can identify appropriate clinical and community interventions on the basis of the particular salient attributions operating for the patient. Future research is indicated, in order to validate the attributional framework in conceptualizing minority mental health problems.