TOEFL Speaking Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition where 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 become available. Learned helplessness is often studied in both animals and humans, demonstrating how perceived lack of control can undermine motivation and learning.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment with dogs. In the first phase, a dog was placed in a chamber where it received mild electric shocks. The dog could stop the shocks by pressing a panel with its nose, but in this group, the panel was disabled—so no matter what the dog did, the shocks continued. After several trials, the dog stopped trying. In the second phase, the same dog was placed in a shuttle box with a low barrier. It received shocks, but this time it could easily jump over the barrier to escape. However, the dog just lay down and whined, making no attempt to jump. The dog had learned that its actions were futile, even though the situation had changed. This shows how learned helplessness can persist, preventing individuals from recognizing new opportunities.