<p>In psychology, we call people's attitudes towards things "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preference#Psychology" rel="nofollow noreferrer">preferences</a>", and the emotional experience associated with preference is referred to as "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affect_%28psychology%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">affect</a>", or more specifically, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_%28psychology%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">valence</a>", which is positive or negative.</p>

<p>As alluded to in the question, there is a genetic predisposition for certain preferences, such as sugar (sweetness), and some aversions, such as quinine (bitterness).  Biology sets probabilities, but since people can come to like bitterness and dislike sweetness, we know that as with any statistical probability, there can be some exceptions.</p>

<p>Learning also plays an important role.  This was clearly demonstrated by the seminal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pavlov's Dog</a> experiment.  Dogs are genetically predispositioned to salivate when they smell food, but have no particular predisposition to the sound of a bell.  However, by pairing the sound of a bell with the smell of food, dogs learned to salivate from the sound of a bell alone.  This process of pairing something that does not elicit a response to something that does is called "classical conditioning".</p>

<p>A well known example of classical conditioning in humans is the sound of a pop-can opening followed by the sound of fizz, which is used by companies such as Coca-Cola in their advertising to elicit a conditioned (positive) response to television ads that only have sound and no smell or taste to them.  Through classical conditioning, people can learn to enjoy something that they have no predisposition to enjoy or even something that they have a predisposition to avoid, or come to dislike something by a similar process.  Restaurants often use ambiance, presentation, and other classically conditioned methods to improve the dining experience independently of the taste of the food.</p>

<p>The role of learning is also evident in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cultural differences</a> in common preferences.  For example, different cultures show a general preference for spicy food, sour food, or subtle flavours.  And as alluded to above, media (such as advertising) can have a profound influence at the cultural level as well - eg, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robusta_coffee" rel="nofollow noreferrer">robusta coffee</a> is low grade and bitter, but Americans have been exposed to much advertising suggesting that it is of high quality, and it is very popular there.  This can also happen through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect" rel="nofollow noreferrer">mere-exposure effect</a>.</p>

<p>Many other factors come into play, including cognitive biases and memory, and these combine together to influence individual preferences.  For example, members of the same family may have similar genetic predispositions and similar cultural influences, but differences in the expression of specific genes, degrees of cultural assimilation, and personal experiences can account for their different preferences.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-06-15T18:26:25.870Z
2018-07-31T01:52:09.900Z
2018-07-31T01:52:09.900Z
Arnon Weinberg
<p>For example, how does psychology account for why some people like peanuts and others hate them? This is a serious question, although perhaps naive.</p>

<p>Sure, there can be some physiological explanations relating to tastebud distribution, etc. There are also some more cognitive ones relating to memory, cultural values, etc. Nonetheless, the "input" (here: peanut) is the same, right?</p>

<p>So any theory that accounts for this must take into consideration physical and psychological parameters.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-15T13:16:42.367Z
This is a hugely broad question, and likely has no single answer.
Krysta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-18T03:40:48.320Z
I'll be sad if this gets closed.... yes, it's broad, but I think there could be a useful overview answer summarizing some of the concepts here...
Josh
<cognitive-psychology><perception><emotion><learning><preferences>
What are the main theories that account for why some people like X and others not?
Teusz
# What are the main theories that account for why some people like X and others not?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-15)

For example, how does psychology account for why some people like peanuts and others hate them? This is a serious question, although perhaps naive.

Sure, there can be some physiological explanations relating to tastebud distribution, etc. There are also some more cognitive ones relating to memory, cultural values, etc. Nonetheless, the "input" (here: peanut) is the same, right?

So any theory that accounts for this must take into consideration physical and psychological parameters.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, perception, emotion, learning, preferences

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is a hugely broad question, and likely has no single answer.  
> **username_2**: I'll be sad if this gets closed.... yes, it's broad, but I think there could be a useful overview answer summarizing some of the concepts here...  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-15. Score: 8

In psychology, we call people's attitudes towards things "[preferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preference#Psychology)", and the emotional experience associated with preference is referred to as "[affect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affect_%28psychology%29)", or more specifically, "[valence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valence_%28psychology%29)", which is positive or negative.

As alluded to in the question, there is a genetic predisposition for certain preferences, such as sugar (sweetness), and some aversions, such as quinine (bitterness). Biology sets probabilities, but since people can come to like bitterness and dislike sweetness, we know that as with any statistical probability, there can be some exceptions.

Learning also plays an important role. This was clearly demonstrated by the seminal [Pavlov's Dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning) experiment. Dogs are genetically predispositioned to salivate when they smell food, but have no particular predisposition to the sound of a bell. However, by pairing the sound of a bell with the smell of food, dogs learned to salivate from the sound of a bell alone. This process of pairing something that does not elicit a response to something that does is called "classical conditioning".

A well known example of classical conditioning in humans is the sound of a pop-can opening followed by the sound of fizz, which is used by companies such as Coca-Cola in their advertising to elicit a conditioned (positive) response to television ads that only have sound and no smell or taste to them. Through classical conditioning, people can learn to enjoy something that they have no predisposition to enjoy or even something that they have a predisposition to avoid, or come to dislike something by a similar process. Restaurants often use ambiance, presentation, and other classically conditioned methods to improve the dining experience independently of the taste of the food.

The role of learning is also evident in [cultural differences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine) in common preferences. For example, different cultures show a general preference for spicy food, sour food, or subtle flavours. And as alluded to above, media (such as advertising) can have a profound influence at the cultural level as well - eg, [robusta coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robusta_coffee) is low grade and bitter, but Americans have been exposed to much advertising suggesting that it is of high quality, and it is very popular there. This can also happen through the [mere-exposure effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect).

Many other factors come into play, including cognitive biases and memory, and these combine together to influence individual preferences. For example, members of the same family may have similar genetic predispositions and similar cultural influences, but differences in the expression of specific genes, degrees of cultural assimilation, and personal experiences can account for their different preferences.


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