The phenomenon of learned helplessness, discovered by Martin Seligman and Steven Maier, demonstrated that expectations can play a significant role in classical and operant conditioning.

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The statement is true. Martin Seligman and Steven Maier's discovery of learned helplessness showed that expectations, or beliefs about the consequences of one's actions, can affect classical and operant conditioning. Specifically, when animals were repeatedly exposed to situations in which their actions had no effect on the outcome, they became "helpless" and stopped trying to change the situation even when their actions were later shown to be effective. This phenomenon has since been observed in humans as well, and has important implications for understanding the psychological effects of trauma, depression, and other conditions.

The Phenomenon of Learned Helplessness, Discovered by Martin Seligman and Steven