Associative memory is not always a perfect science. Below are some ways that associative memory might connect in ways that you don’t intend when a bad memory is brought back to your mind or a random association is created.
You associate your kindergarten teacher with a monkey because she had one on her desk.
A smell brings back an event, like the apple pie that your mom would make when you were sick.
Your favourite movie or tv show reminds you of someone in it, and then immediately makes you think of them in a new way (in a different context).
The school bully draws out the memory of an embarrassing event you had when you were around that person.
A song reminds you of your first kiss or some other memorable event in your life, and in doing so makes it harder for you to get “that” song out of your head.
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