I have a few connections to in-class content with personal experiences.
I have worked at a chocolate store for the past year and half. As a result of my frequent exposure to this setting, I can no longer smell chocolate. This is an example of sensory adaptation, because I am not alerted to the smell of chocolate anymore.
I also can make a personal connection to classical conditioning. Two years ago, I was sitting at a gas station after dark in my mom's van, waiting for her to buy a bag of ice from the gas station. Two men approached the van and started tapping on the windows and asking me to open them. They pulled on the door handles, and when I wouldn't let them in, they threw their bodies at the side of the van.
Since this experience, I have not gone to a gas station after dark. I refuse to because I am now afraid of dark gas stations. This is an example of classical conditioning. In this case, the unconditioned stimulus is the two men trying to get into my mom's van. The unconditioned response is my fear. The neutral stimulus is the dark gas station, which later becomes the conditioned stimulus because I have learned to link dark gas stations with scary, aggressive men. The conditioned response is a fear of going to gas stations at night.
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In regards to your comment about working in a chocolate store and no longer smelling chocolate, I can completely relate. I work at the Tunda Lodge as a lifeguard, and therefore I am around the smell of chlorine for hours. I can no longer smell this chlorine, and I am always unaware of the fact that I reak of chlornie. After work my mom always makes me shower because she can't stand how strongly I smell of chlorine.
ReplyDeleteI also think that your experience is very traumatic, and it is a perfect example of classical conditioning. I think it is fascinating how classical conditioning is the reason for many peoples fears or emotions, all because of a single event that altered a neutral stimulus. Classical conditioning is a very important topic to grasp, and I think it is very important when it comes to learning.
im surprised that you cant smell chocolate. I had a question about the chocolate though. I know you work at Seroogy's and the chocolate is made a certain way, but is there a difference between the chocolate you work with and the chocolate at different factories. I dont know if the different aromas and ingredients would affect that. Also to comment on your classical conditioning, that would be very scary. I think that you made a good connection and i understand it better.
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