托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a psychological state in which an individual, after repeated failures or uncontrollable negative outcomes, comes to believe that no matter what they do, they cannot change the situation. This belief leads to a passive acceptance of adverse conditions, even when opportunities for escape or improvement become available. Learned helplessness often results from a lack of perceived control and can affect motivation, problem-solving, and emotional well-being.

Professor: Now, let me give you an example from a classic study. Researchers placed dogs in a chamber with an electrified floor. In the first phase, the dogs were restrained and received mild shocks that they could not escape, no matter how much they struggled. After several trials, they stopped trying altogether. In the second phase, these same dogs were placed in a shuttle box, which had a low barrier dividing it into two compartments. The floor on one side was electrified, but the dogs could easily jump over the barrier to the safe side. However, instead of jumping, the dogs simply lay down and whimpered, accepting the shocks. They had learned that escape was impossible, even though the situation had changed. In contrast, dogs that had never experienced uncontrollable shocks quickly learned to jump the barrier to avoid the shock. This demonstrates how prior experiences of helplessness can generalize to new situations, preventing individuals from recognizing when they can actually take control.