60 male undergraduates were given 4 levels of experience with insoluble problems. Solutions of problems avoided shock while non-solution resulted in shock. Increasing amounts of prior non-solution were associated with retardation of solving problems once solution became possible. The results were cast in a “learned helplessness” framework. S's speed of reaction increased as problems became soluble. There were no detectable changes in S's skin responses.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GeerJ. H.DavisonG. C.GatchelR. I.Reduction of stress in humans through nonveridical perceived control of aversive stimulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1970, 16, 731–738.
2.
SeligmanM. E. P.MaierS. F.Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1967, 74, 1–9.
3.
SeligmanM. E. P.MaierS. F.SolomonR. L.Unpredictable and uncontrollable aversive events. In BrushF. R. (Ed.), Aversive conditioning and learning. New York: Academic Press, 1971. Pp. 347–400.
