A student who excels in discussions but struggles with writing is likely experiencing what?

A student who excels in discussions but struggles with writing may be demonstrating a phenomenon known as learned helplessness. This occurs when a student feels unable to succeed in a particular area due to past failures or perceived barriers, which can lead to a lack of motivation to improve in that domain. They might engage effectively in spoken discussions, utilizing their verbal skills and confidence in that setting. However, if they have previously faced difficulties with writing tasks or received negative feedback that has affected their self-esteem, it can lead them to believe that they cannot improve in writing, causing a passive response to challenges.

In contrast, learned helplessness specifically highlights the sense of powerlessness that arises from these experiences. It's essential to differentiate this from ordinary academic challenges, where students typically encounter difficulties across various subjects but can work through them with support and effort. Similarly, confidence and motivation may play roles in a student's overall performance but do not capture the specific mindset associated with learned helplessness, which fundamentally impacts their approach towards writing tasks.

In this context, the focus is on understanding the psychological barriers affecting the student's writing skills while they thrive in verbal discussions, indicating a specific pattern of learned helplessness in the face of written assignments.