Conducted 3 studies with 108 male rats to examine the effect of inescapable shock on finickiness, operationally defined as suppressed consumption of quinine-adulterated water. Exposure to a single session of inescapable shock increased finickiness relative to simple restraint or no treatment. The effect of shock on finickiness was replicable, was specific to adulterated water, and persisted for at least 24 hrs. The weak quinine solution rejected by shocked Ss supported a conditioned taste aversion, suggesting that the difference between shocked Ss and controls was not due to the inability of the latter to taste the quinine. It is suggested that this phenomenon may be pertinent to the interpretation of appetitive "helplessness" effects and to the nature of eating disorders associated with stress and depression.