In an experiment, two groups of dogs are given shocks to their feet. One group is able to escape the shocks by jumping over a barrier. The second group is harnessed and cannot escape. After several trials, both groups are put in situations where they CAN escape. The first group escapes the shocks but the second group just sits and whines, refusing to attempt to escape. The response of the second group is due to __________
A) learned helplessness.
B) contingency blocking.
C) latent learning.
D) response generalization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior of the second group is an example of learned helplessness, which occurs when an individual comes to believe that they are unable to control or change a negative situation, even when presented with an opportunity to do so. This results in a passive response or lack of effort to change the situation. The first group, who previously learned that they could control the shocks by jumping over the barrier, were able to successfully escape the shocks in the new situation. Contingency blocking and response generalization do not accurately describe the behavior of the second group in this scenario, and latent learning is not relevant as the dogs were not given any reward for their behavior.

In an Experiment, Two Groups of Dogs Are Given Shocks