This paper describes the concept of learned helplessness, related theoretical concepts, it's apperarance in fields important for social work as well as manners which social worker can use for decreasing and preventing learned helplessness. Learned helplessness represents condition of passively accepting uncomfortable situations caused by persons belief that there is no purpose in trying to change those situations. Those beliefs appear after experiencing series of failures in trying to take control and it causes pessimism and lack of motivation, which also reflects on situations where person is actually able to do something about it. It happens to people who attribute negative event with stable, internal and global factors and to those who have external locus of control. The manifestation of learned helplessness is very common in many situations where social workers work with clients who need to be empowered and encouraged to change their unpleasant situations, which seems hopeless to them.