10 Classical Conditioning Examples in Everyday Life

Have you heard of Pavlov's dogs? That's the experiment conducted by Russian
physiologist Ivan Pavlov wherein his dogs started to salivate when he rang a bell. This
is the best-known example of classical conditioning, when a neutral stimulus is paired
with a conditioned response. Did you know there are many classical conditioning
examples in everyday life, too? Let's explore 10 of them.

1. Smartphone Tones and Vibes

If you've ever been in a public area and heard a familiar notification chime, this classical
conditioning example will certainly ring true for you. You hear that tone and instinctively
reach for your smartphone, only to realize it's coming from someone else's phone.

The chime or tone is a neutral stimulus. Through classical conditioning, you've come to
associate it with the positive feeling of reading a message. It's the same reason why you
might reach for your phone when you think you feel it vibrating in your pocket, even if it
isn't.

2. Celebrities in Advertising
Celebrity endorsements are nothing new. Advertisers are taking advantage of our
positive associations with these celebrities in order to sell more products and services.
Michael Jordan doesn't have anything to do directly with Nike shoes, just as Jennifer
Aniston isn't inherently linked to Smartwater.

Potential customers then see a bottle of Smartwater and start to experience the same
positive feelings as when they see Jennifer Aniston.
3. Restaurant Aromas
Many real-world classical conditioning examples are near perfect parallels for Pavlov's
original experiment. When you're greeted with the familiar smell of pizza fresh out of the
oven, you might already start salivating, even before you take your first bite. The aroma
of the food to come serves the same role as Pavlov's ringing bell.

4. Fear of Dogs
As a child, let's say you walked the same route to school each day. As you passed a
particular house, a dog in the yard would bark loudly at you, bearing its teeth. This is a
frightening experience, particularly as a young child. Prior to this, dogs were a fairly
neutral stimulus.

Years later, you may experience a case of spontaneous recovery. You may not even
remember the childhood dog specifically, but as you walk past a similar-looking house
with a "beware of dog" sign on the fence, you get unnerved and start to tremble.