The reformulated learned helplessness theory builds upon the original model by emphasizing the role of attributions—mental explanations for events—in fostering a sense of helplessness and depression. The theory posits that it is not just the experience of uncontrollable negative events, but how one explains those events that matters. Specifically, it predicts that individuals who attribute negative outcomes to internal, stable, and global causes will perceive a lack of control over the situation. This perceived powerlessness, in turn, makes them particularly vulnerable to developing depression.