Monty signs up for an experiment in which he is supposed to learn a series of word pairs. When he is later tested on his memory for these words, Monty is given a shock after every answer he gives, even when he gets the answer correct. In a different memory task the following week, Monty does not even try to study the photos he is given, even though he is told that he will receive shocks for every incorrect response he makes. Monty is demonstrating

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Monty's behavior shows learned helplessness, which is the belief that one cannot control the outcomes of a situation and therefore gives up trying. This is evidenced by his lack of effort in the second task despite being threatened with punishment for incorrect responses. Problem-focused coping, hardiness, and self-efficacy all involve taking action to control a situation, which Monty is not doing in either task.

Monty Signs Up for an Experiment in Which He Is