<p>One explanation for the development of 'acquired tastes' is a form of reinforcement learning called <strong>flavor-flavor learning</strong>. The name sounds a bit odd on its own, but should best be seen in relation to the concept of flavor-nutrient learning.</p>
<h2>What flavor-flavor learning is</h2>
<p>When a previously unexperienced flavor is encountered with familiar flavors, the eater may learn to associate these tastes. This is called flavor-flavor learning. There is some experimental evidence to suggest that flavor-flavor learning is automatic when eaters are hungry (Brunstrom and Fletcher, 2008). The study is not as well powered as might have been preferred, however, so the chance of false positives should be kept in mind.</p>
<h2>How flavor-flavor learning explains taste acquisition</h2>
<p>Supposing the Brunstrom and Fletcher result is not a false positive, we then have a plausible idea of how acquired tastes might develop from a flavor-flavor theoretic viewpoint: people are exposed to novel flavors in combination with liked flavors at meal times, either through parents or friends or just eating out. Since we tend to eat when we are hungry, in the long run this induces flavor-flavor learning and hence taste acquisition.</p>
<p>If you want to know more, a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=1510705824171828061&amp;as_sdt=5,33&amp;sciodt=0,33&amp;hl=en" rel="nofollow noreferrer">forward Scholar search</a> on the Brunstrom and Fletcher paper lists some subsequent studies that deal with acquired tastes in additional detail.</p>
<h2>References</h2>
<blockquote>
<p>Brunstrom, J. M., &amp; Fletcher, H. Z. (2008). Flavour–flavour learning occurs automatically and only in hungry participants. Physiology &amp; behavior, 93(1), 13-19.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-22T15:55:21.707Z
2015-03-22T16:13:19.053Z
2020-06-17T09:55:31.633Z
Christian Hummeluhr
<p>Some foods are delicious. People love eating them, and the experience has a positive reinforcement. Thus, people will eat the food again.</p>

<p>Some foods are instead "challenging", at least initially. For example, spicy or unfamiliar food. There are some foods which are considered particularly challenging like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian">Durian fruit</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg">Century eggs</a>.</p>

<p>Why don't people simply stop eating this food, and instead acquire a taste for it? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-28T11:33:41.187Z
why do people start smoking despite its ugly taste? Because it is rewarding, in the end.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-22T15:56:30.623Z
I enjoyed this answer for both its orthodoxy and its roundness. ;)
Christian Hummeluhr
<perception><feeding><reinforcement-learning>
What is an acquired taste?
Sklivvz
# What is an acquired taste?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-28)

Some foods are delicious. People love eating them, and the experience has a positive reinforcement. Thus, people will eat the food again.

Some foods are instead "challenging", at least initially. For example, spicy or unfamiliar food. There are some foods which are considered particularly challenging like [Durian fruit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian) or [Century eggs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg).

Why don't people simply stop eating this food, and instead acquire a taste for it?

**Tags:** perception, feeding, reinforcement-learning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: why do people start smoking despite its ugly taste? Because it is rewarding, in the end.  
> **username_2**: I enjoyed this answer for both its orthodoxy and its roundness. ;)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-22. Score: 3

One explanation for the development of 'acquired tastes' is a form of reinforcement learning called **flavor-flavor learning**. The name sounds a bit odd on its own, but should best be seen in relation to the concept of flavor-nutrient learning.

## What flavor-flavor learning is

When a previously unexperienced flavor is encountered with familiar flavors, the eater may learn to associate these tastes. This is called flavor-flavor learning. There is some experimental evidence to suggest that flavor-flavor learning is automatic when eaters are hungry (Brunstrom and Fletcher, 2008). The study is not as well powered as might have been preferred, however, so the chance of false positives should be kept in mind.

## How flavor-flavor learning explains taste acquisition

Supposing the Brunstrom and Fletcher result is not a false positive, we then have a plausible idea of how acquired tastes might develop from a flavor-flavor theoretic viewpoint: people are exposed to novel flavors in combination with liked flavors at meal times, either through parents or friends or just eating out. Since we tend to eat when we are hungry, in the long run this induces flavor-flavor learning and hence taste acquisition.

If you want to know more, a [forward Scholar search](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=1510705824171828061&as_sdt=5,33&sciodt=0,33&hl=en) on the Brunstrom and Fletcher paper lists some subsequent studies that deal with acquired tastes in additional detail.

## References

> Brunstrom, J. M., & Fletcher, H. Z. (2008). Flavour–flavour learning occurs automatically and only in hungry participants. Physiology & behavior, 93(1), 13-19.


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