托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'learned helplessness' refers to a condition in which an individual, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events, stops trying to change or escape the situation, even when opportunities for change later become available. This learned passivity arises from a belief that outcomes are independent of one's actions. The phenomenon was first demonstrated in dogs by Martin Seligman, who found that animals subjected to inescapable shocks eventually failed to avoid shocks in a new environment where avoidance was possible. Learned helplessness has been observed in humans, affecting motivation, problem-solving, and emotional well-being.

Professor: Let me give you a real-life example to clarify this. Consider a student named Maria who struggled with math in high school. Despite studying hard, she consistently failed her math tests. Over time, she concluded that no matter what she did, she would fail, so she stopped trying altogether. After high school, she took a college math course that was taught in a completely different way—with interactive problem-solving and individual support. The professor was patient, and the course was designed to ensure students could succeed if they put in effort. Maria's classmates did well, and the professor even offered extra help. However, Maria never attended the help sessions, didn't complete assignments, and barely studied for exams. She failed again. But this time, her failure wasn't due to lack of ability or poor teaching—it was because her earlier experiences had taught her that effort was pointless. She had learned to be helpless, and she carried that belief into a situation where success was entirely possible.