Blog Post Three: Classical Conditioning

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I can think of numerous times in the past where I've smelled a certain type of perfume or cologne and immediately thought of a specific person or relationship from my life. I'm sure many of you can say the same. This is one of many great, real-life examples of classical conditioning! 

Classical conditioning is a type of unconscious or automatic learning that involves placing a neutral stimulus before a naturally occurring reflex. (https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-conditioning-2794859). My high school boyfriend always wore the same cologne, which naturally led to me associating that scent with my experiences and emotions during that relationship. After we broke up, classical conditioning took place without me even realizing. Here's how it happened:

Unconditioned Stimulus: my boyfriend and the time we spent together (this naturally caused feelings of love, comfort, excitement, etc.)

Unconditioned Response (UR): the emotional reactions (love, joy, butterflies, etc.) I felt around him

Neutral Stimulus (NS): the cologne (on its own, before the relationship, it didn’t trigger any special response)

During the relationship, the cologne was present during a lot of emotional moments, which led to me associating it with those feelings.

After the relationship,

Conditioned Stimulus (CS): the scent of the cologne

Conditioned Response (CR): feeling emotional (nostalgic, sad, happy, heartbroken, etc.) when I smell it later, even if he's not around

It's amazing to see how our brains link such simple and neutral things to emotional experiences and create a whole new meaning for them. 

Source:

Cherry, Kendra. “What Is Classical Conditioning in Psychology?” Verywell Mind, 5 Apr. 2021, www.verywellmind.com/classical-conditioning-2794859.


this is the cologne lol (it actually smells really good I recommend)

Comments

  1. Deyalith MJune 5, 2025 at 11:44 AM

    Thanks for sharing your story. I can relate to how a certain smell can bring back strong memories and feelings. You explained classical conditioning in a clear and easy way. It makes sense how your brain connected the cologne to your emotions during that time. It’s interesting how this can happen without us even noticing.

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