MCAT® ExamPsychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of BehaviorEasy
A researcher is studying the phenomenon of 'learned helplessness' in a group of rats. The rats are initially subjected to unavoidable electric shocks. Later, these same rats are placed in a shuttle box where they can escape the shock by jumping over a barrier. Compared to a control group of rats that did not receive unavoidable shocks, the experimental group is expected to exhibit which of the following behaviors?
- AA decreased latency to escape the shock in the shuttle box.
- BIncreased exploratory behavior in the shuttle box.
- CA higher number of attempts to jump over the barrier.
- DA greater tendency to remain passive and endure the shock.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. A greater tendency to remain passive and endure the shock.
Learned helplessness occurs when an organism is exposed to inescapable adverse stimuli, leading to a belief that they have no control over their situation. This results in a failure to avoid subsequent avoidable adverse stimuli.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Decreased latency to escape implies quick and effective learning of the escape route, which is the opposite of learned helplessness.
- B. Increased exploratory behavior would suggest a lack of learned helplessness, as the rats would be actively seeking solutions.
- C. A higher number of attempts to escape would indicate active coping, contrary to learned helplessness.
Learned Helplessness
A condition in which a person or animal has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even when opportunities for relief are available, because of repeated exposure to uncontrollable painful or aversive stimuli.
- Results from exposure to inescapable adverse events.
- Leads to passive behavior in controllable situations.
- Associated with depression and anxiety.
Memory trick: Helpless Hounds Hunker, Hoping it Halts.