Conditioned fear responses

Conditioned fear responses occur when a person learns to associate a specific stimulus—such as a sight, sound, or situation—with a frightening or threatening experience. Over time, encountering that stimulus alone triggers a fear reaction, even if no actual danger is present. This process, called classical conditioning, helps the brain recognize and respond to potential threats based on past experiences. Such responses can develop quickly and persist, contributing to anxiety or phobias when the individual encounters related stimuli in the future.