托福口语 Task 3

In behavioral psychology, 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition in which an individual, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events, ceases to attempt to change or escape the situation, even when opportunities for relief later become available. This phenomenon occurs when the individual perceives that outcomes are independent of their actions, leading to a passive acceptance of adversity. Learned helplessness can affect motivation, learning, and emotional well-being, often resulting in depression or reduced problem-solving ability in future situations.

Professor: Let me give you an example from an experiment with dogs. In the first phase, a dog was placed in a box with a low barrier in the middle. The floor on one side was electrified. When the shock was turned on, the dog could easily jump over the barrier to safety. But in this first phase, the dog had no way to escape—the shock was always on, no matter what it did. After several trials, the dog stopped trying and just lay down. In the second phase, the same dog was placed in a similar box, but this time the barrier was low enough to jump over, and the shock was only on the dog's side. The dog could clearly escape. However, because it had learned earlier that nothing it did mattered, it did not even attempt to jump. It just endured the shock, whimpering. This shows how previous uncontrollable experiences can lead to passivity, even when the situation has changed.