TOEFL Speaking Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition in which an individual, after repeatedly experiencing uncontrollable negative events, begins to believe that their actions have no effect on outcomes. Consequently, they stop trying to change their situation, even when opportunities for control later become available. This passive behavior is learned, not innate, and can be observed in both animals and humans. Learned helplessness often arises in situations of chronic stress or failure, leading to motivational, cognitive, and emotional deficits.

Professor: To illustrate learned helplessness, let me tell you about an experiment with dogs. In the first phase, dogs were placed in a chamber with a floor that delivered mild electric shocks. One group could press a panel to stop the shock. The other group received shocks at the same time but had no control—pressing the panel did nothing. After several trials, the dogs were moved to a new chamber divided by a low barrier. When a shock was delivered, they could easily jump over the barrier to escape. Dogs that had control in the first phase quickly jumped to safety. However, dogs that had experienced uncontrollable shocks mostly lay down and whined, making no attempt to escape, even though the barrier was low and escape was possible. They had learned that their actions were futile, so they gave up—a clear case of learned helplessness.