Resources and Insights

This blog post explores the concept of learned helplessness in phishing susceptibility, using the story of Mike, a diligent accountant, to illustrate how repetitive, unfair phishing training without feedback can lead even cautious employees to feel powerless and give up. The post argues that “gotcha” phishing simulations set employees up to fail, fostering disengagement rather than improving security awareness. The solution? Just-in-time training and gamification, which provide real-time, constructive feedback and make training both fair and engaging. This shift from punitive tactics to educational, empowering methods breaks the cycle of learned helplessness and strengthens employees’ phishing defenses. The post concludes with a call to action to adopt PhishFirewall’s innovative, automated approach to phishing training.