Romans 1:26

Pathological "Learned Helplessness"

The term πᾰθη (pathē), is plural, and is derived from πάσχω (to suffer). It refers to a passive state in which something is done to a person or a thing, as opposed to πρᾶξις (praxis), which signifies active doing. This concept is found in texts like Plato's Timaeus (80b) and Laws (903b), where πάθος encompasses experiences or events that occur to an individual, such as suffering or misfortune, as seen in various tragedies and historical accounts (e.g., Sophocles' Ajax 295, Herodotus 1.122). Πᾰθ-η can also refer to specific afflictions like blindness (Herodotus 2.111) or physical suffering caused by conditions like suffocation (Plato, Philebus 32a).

In the context of feelings of helplessness or feeling out of control, πάθος pathos is the go-to word. it captures the experience of being subjected to "forces outside of one's control," where the individual is the passive recipient of actions or events, rather than an active participant. This passive suffering—whether through misfortune, bodily affliction, or external circumstances—reflects a state where a person has no agency over their own life, embodying a profound sense of powerlessness and vulnerability. The modern psychological concept of learned helplessness (a term coined by psychologist Martin Seligman) is closely rooted in this ancient notion of πάθος pathos, describing a condition in which an individual, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable stressors, comes to believe they have no control over their circumstances, leading to feelings of despair and passivity.

"Why are the guys so passive?!?"

The idea of passivity in πάθος pathos resonates with modern terms such as external locus of control, where an individual perceives their fate as determined by external forces (e.g., luck, others' actions, or societal constraints, or higher powers) rather than their own decisions and efforts. This psychological outlook contributes to the experience of........ victimhood, in which a person feels unable to change or influence their environment. Thus, πάθος pathos symbolizes that existential struggle where the individual feels overwhelmed by forces beyond his or her ability to influence or alter, akin to the psychological states of powerlessness and a diminished sense of agency.

Thus as the saying goes, as a man is, so is the strength of himself.