Member Submission: Not Helpless

By Don

I have repeatedly heard people report that only a small fraction of those on the registry in Florida have joined the Florida Action Committee. Some might suggest that this is because there are many who are unaware of the organization. Others suggest there may be fear of retribution. I have heard that some do not join because of the cost—a clear mistake as there is only a suggested donation, not a requirement of annual dues. There may be other reasons given, but they seem hollow and empty.

When I first arrived in Florida, a friend went online and located the names and telephone numbers of the registrants in my small city. I wanted to find a support group, as I previously had found this was an important aspect of continued recovery and mutual encouragement. I called each person. In most cases either the phone was not answered, or when the phone was answered they immediately hung up. There was only one person who spoke with me. It was clear he did not want to talk, even when I told him I wanted to locate a support group that I could join. He told me there once had been a support group, but it had disbanded. It was unclear why that was. He told me he was sure no one wanted such a group again.

But even among members of the Florida Action Committee, there are those who remain detached and removed from local activities as well as state-wide initiatives. We can admire the fact that people have some affiliation with FAC, but often we wonder why they do not get more involved. Calls to action may not draw many responses—with several notable exceptions—and participation in county-wide groups is often low. How can this be?

I do not fault the incredible work of the FAC leaders, both at the state and county levels. I applaud the fine work of our leadership. The weekly and monthly updates reveal their hard work, yet much of the activity goes unrecognized. They serve well and without compensation. Major changes take time and a lot of hard work. That is the nature of social change.

But could there be a deeper reason for registrants not taking part in the efforts of FAC and other organizations trying to make changes in Florida and other states of the country? Might there be a reason that many who affiliate with FAC and like-minded groups do not participate more often? I am convinced there is.

It is possible that “learned helplessness” may be a partial explanation of inactivity by some members as well as those who are not members of FAC. Learned helplessness is a classic description of why people and animals sometimes do not exercise the abilities they have to change things for the better. Most general psychology textbooks, including one I helped author, describe research studies by Martin Seligman who experimented with dogs. Later researchers considered these issues in their study of human beings who were resigned to terrible situations, yet made little or no effort to escape.

In the initial study, dogs were restrained by a harness and then given shocks from which they were unable to escape. Then the dogs were released and could easily avoid the shocks by simply jumping over hurdles. But the dogs did nothing to escape; they received the shocks and made no effort to avoid the pain.

In contrast, another group of dogs was given the same shocks, but were able to avoid them from the very beginning. They did not learn to be helpless. They continued to avoid the pain. We feel sorrow that the dogs experienced these things, but there is greater sorrow for people who have this problem.

Seligman and other researchers examined the effects of lack of control by human beings, and the reactions that ensued. Those who have little control over their lives, such as those in prison or nursing homes, suffer from higher levels of stress and lower morale. When prisoners were allowed more control over the environment—by moving chairs, controlling television, and the like, and similarly, when nursing homes provided more choices for residents, both health and morale of prisoners and the elderly improved. Some degree of control decreased the sense of learned helplessness.

Most registrants have experienced the demoralizing aspects of incarceration. This has been well documented for more than half a century. Too often there is very little if any control of the environment. Thus it seems that inmates learn to be helpless. I experienced this first-hand when in jail and prison. The reality of who was in control was obvious: the officers in charge, affirmed by the omnipresent barbed wire that surrounded the facility.

Is it any wonder that so many former inmates experience learned helplessness? Perhaps more amazing is the fact that some are able to break free of this problem. Support groups may help explain how this is possible, but the sense of our efforts making a difference is also crucial.

I see FAC doing what it can to overcome the problem of learned helplessness. Highlighting gains that are made is essential. Changes for the better clearly reveal the value of working together with FAC toward a common goal, but also reveals that each of us helps influence the changes that result. It proves we are not powerless; instead we are empowered. Any gain, no matter how limited, reveals that additional improvement is possible. Forming and joining support groups like Fearless will bring an additional sense of empowerment as well as encouragement.

Even posting a message like this one, or a response to a posted message on the FAC website, reveals that hope is not lost. We must convince others on the registry of this fact, and that by working together we can make gains we otherwise could not. Inactive members, current members, and non-members need to recognize that we are not helpless, but we need to be a part of the great work being done by FAC. This is where one-to-one relationships can be made with those who know little about us. We must repeatedly convey the message to one another, in every way we can, that life outside prison is not just another prison. There is much to be gained. No, we are not helpless. The old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song was wrong. I loved their music, but they had it dead wrong. We are not helpless. We can join hands and change our world for the better.