Learned Helplessness. BIBLIOGRAPHY. The term learned helplessness was coined by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in 1967 to describe the behavior of dogs who, after experiencing inescapable electric shocks behaved as if they were helpless.As with many terms in psychology, learned helplessness is both descriptive and explanatory.earned Helplessness. BIBLIOGRAPHY. The term learned helplessness was coined by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in 1967 to describe the behavior of dogs who, after experiencing inescapable electric shocks behaved as if they were helpless.