Question

question 10
the concept of learned helplessness was formulated by seligman to explain the

a ability of dogs to learn to help other dogs escape situations in which they are receiving uncontrollable shocks
b inability of dogs to learn to help other dogs escape situations in which they are receiving uncontrollable electric shocks
c inability of dogs to attempt to escape avoidable shocks after having received inescapable shocks
d failure of dogs to learn to from prior mistakes

Explanation:

Seligman's learned helplessness experiment involved dogs. After experiencing inescapable shocks (no control over the situation), when later given the opportunity to escape avoidable shocks (where escape was possible), the dogs did not attempt to escape. This shows a learned sense of helplessness - they had learned that their actions didn't matter in the past (with inescapable shocks) and generalized that to the new (avoidable shock) situation. Options A and B focus on helping other dogs which is not the core of the learned helplessness concept. Option D about learning from prior mistakes is too vague and not specific to the learned helplessness phenomenon demonstrated in the experiment.

Answer:

C. inability of dogs to attempt to escape avoidable shocks after having received inescapable shocks