The subject of the book is the phenomenon of learned helplessness. In addition to the long-dominant motivational theoretical explanation, the action-theoretical interpretation by Kuhl is particularly discussed. The focus of the examination is on the preceding conditions of learned helplessness and their effects on performance. In this context, especially the author's own experimental studies and their implications for the theory are presented. This leads to an explanatory approach that integrates the two seemingly competing interpretations and contributes to a better understanding of the phenomenon of learned helplessness.