TOEFLスピーキング Task 3

In psychology, the concept of "learned helplessness" refers to a condition in which an individual learns to believe that they have no control over the outcomes of their actions, even when opportunities for change exist. This belief often arises after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events, leading to passivity and a failure to act, even in new situations where escape or improvement is possible. Learned helplessness can affect motivation, emotional well-being, and problem-solving abilities.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from an experiment with dogs. Researchers placed dogs in a chamber with a floor that delivered mild electric shocks. One group of dogs could stop the shocks by pressing a panel with their noses—so they learned they had control. Another group received shocks that stopped only when the first group pressed the panel, so they had no control over their own shocks. Later, 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 from the first group quickly learned to jump over. But the dogs from the second group—the ones who had previously experienced uncontrollable shocks—initially just lay down and whined. They didn't even try to jump, even though escape was easy. They had learned that their actions didn't matter, so they gave up. This shows how past uncontrollable experiences can create a mental state of helplessness that persists in new situations.