托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a psychological state in which an individual, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events, begins to believe that their actions have no effect on outcomes. This belief leads to passivity and a failure to attempt escape or change, even when opportunities for relief later become available. Learned helplessness often arises in situations where a person perceives a lack of control, regardless of the actual possibility of altering circumstances.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a study 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 shocks, but the other group couldn't—the shocks stopped only when the first group pressed the panel. After this phase, both groups were placed in a shuttle box with a low barrier. They could easily jump over the barrier to escape the shocks. The dogs that had control in the first phase quickly learned to jump over the barrier. However, the dogs that had no control in the first phase just lay down and whined, even though jumping was clearly possible. They had learned that their actions were futile, so they gave up trying. This shows learned helplessness—they didn't attempt to escape because they believed nothing they did would matter.