The Ladder of Commitment
Posted by Paul Thompson on June 25th, 2010
1. Helplessness
Years ago, scientists did an experiment on lab rats that involved dividing a metal cage into four sections and placing electrical current underneath each section. When a section of the cage was filled with live current, the rat would receive a small shock if stepping into that part of the cage. Quickly, the rat would learn to avoid that section.
Over time, each section of the cage was electrified in turn, leaving only one quadrant of the cage as a ‘safe haven’ for our experimental rat.
What happened?
Even after the electricity was shut off completely, the rat would stay in their tiny corner of the world, unwilling to even attempt to venture out into a world that it had already learned from experience would only sting you if you dared to approach it.
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