Question

After several attempts at escape with no success, the electrically shocked dogs give up. At that moment the gates open and the dogs could simply walk out, but they don't; instead they just sit there. This could most likely be explained by the concept of:

(A) Latent learning
(B) Spontaneous recovery
(C) Vicarious learning
(D) Learned helplessness
(E) Intrinsic motivation

Answer 1

The dogs not attempting to escape despite the open gates exemplify 'learned helplessness,' a concept coined by Martin Seligman to describe a state where beings learn to accept helplessness after repeated failures to control negative events. The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described where electrically shocked dogs, after several failed escape attempts, give up even when the gates are open and they could walk out, can be explained by the concept of learned helplessness.

This term, developed by psychologist Martin Seligman in the 1960s, refers to a condition in which a being has learned to behave helplessly, failing to respond even though there are opportunities for it to help itself by avoiding unpleasant conditions or by gaining positive rewards.

Learned helplessness occurs when an individual, or in this case the dogs, encounter a situation where they perceive no escape from a negative event, and this perception leads them to stop attempting escape even when opportunities are presented.

It was also noted that such a state can be similar to human depression, where the individual becomes passive and may show lack of initiative in future situations where they could actually have control.