forum How to write a character with learned helplessness

Started October 02, 2019 by @NotSoBeautifulDiseaster group

tune

A character of mine has endured emotional and physical abuse and became a pushover due to that, how to portray their struggle with learned helplessness correctly

Perhaps you can write in scenes where the character argues with themself internally about whether or not they should do something, or they'd like to do something but don't think it will make any difference. Or maybe there's a bully or someone who is a natural leader and likes to "rule" over others in school or in their life. Hope that helps!

Ok, Thanks for the advice

Yeah, no problem!

Here's an idea. Give them an internal bully. Give them a voice in their head that's basically a culmination of all the negative and hurtful things people have said to them in their lives. Have it constantly belittle them, and tell them that nothing they do will ever amount to anything.