TOEFL Speaking Task 3

In behavioral psychology, 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition in which an individual, after repeatedly facing unavoidable negative stimuli, begins to believe that they have no control over their environment. This belief persists even when escape or positive change becomes possible. Learned helplessness often leads to passivity, reduced motivation, and impaired problem-solving, as the person generalizes their past powerlessness to new situations. The concept is commonly studied through experiments involving animals or humans facing inescapable conditions.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example. In an experiment, researchers placed dogs in a chamber with a low barrier. First, they gave mild electric shocks, but the dogs could easily jump over the barrier to escape. However, in a prior phase, some dogs were restrained in harnesses, preventing any escape, and they received shocks repeatedly. After that, these same dogs were placed in the chamber with the barrier. What happened? Instead of jumping, they just lay down and whined, even though the barrier was low and escape was simple. They had learned that their actions didn't matter, so they gave up. In contrast, dogs without that prior experience quickly jumped over the barrier. This shows how past uncontrollable experiences can lead to a passive response even when the situation changes.