Alleviation of learned helplessness in the dog.

A theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of dogs given inescapable shock in a Pavlovian harness later seem to “give up” and passively accept traumatic shock in shuttlebox escape/avoidance training and the importance of instrumental control over aversive events in the cause, prevention, and treatment of such behaviors was discussed.

Abstract

Dogs given inescapable shock in a Pavlovian harness later seem to “give up” and passively accept traumatic shock in shuttlebox escape/avoidance training. A theoretical analysis of this phenomenon was presented. As predicted by this analysis, the failure to escape was alleviated by repeatedly compelling the dog to make the response which terminated shock. This maladaptive passive behavior in the face of trauma may be related to maladaptive passive behavior in humans. The importance of instrumental control over aversive events in the cause, prevention, and treatment of such behaviors was discussed.