A conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral cue that, after repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus–something that naturally triggers a response–begins to elicit a learned reaction. For example, in Pavlov’s famous experiment, the bell was originally just a neutral sound. But after being repeatedly paired with food (the unconditioned stimulus), it became a conditioned stimulus that made the dogs salivate even when the food wasn’t present.

This shows how behavior is learned through repetition and association: once the connection is formed, the conditioned stimulus alone can trigger the response.

In everyday life, we pick up little habits through learned associations, like walking straight to the counter when the food buzzer goes off, or instantly vibing when a familiar song starts playing because it sparks something positive. You can see this kind of thing in classrooms too. Teachers often use clapping, like three quick claps, to get students to quiet down and pay attention. At first, it’s just a random sound, but after being paired with verbal instructions a few times, the clapping itself becomes a signal. Eventually, students react to the claps alone which demonstrate how simple cues in our environment can shape repetitive behaviors that become part of our daily routines.

Cherry, K. (2023, August 31). What is a conditioned stimulus? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-conditioned-stimulus-2794975