托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition in which an individual, after repeatedly facing uncontrollable negative events, begins to believe that their actions have no effect on outcomes. This belief leads them to stop trying to change their situation, even when opportunities for escape or improvement later become available. Learned helplessness often results from exposure to trauma or repeated failure, and it can significantly impact motivation, learning, and emotional well-being.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Researchers placed dogs in a chamber with an electrified floor. Initially, the dogs could escape the shock by jumping over a small barrier. However, in the first phase of the experiment, the dogs were harnessed so they couldn’t escape the shocks, no matter what they did. After several trials, the harness was removed, and the dogs were again placed in the chamber with the barrier. Surprisingly, most of the dogs didn’t even try to jump over the barrier. They just lay down and whined, tolerating the shocks. Even when the experimenters made the shocks milder and the barrier lower, the dogs remained passive. They had learned that their efforts were futile, so they gave up, even though escape was now possible.