How Beliefs and Values Influence What Tastes Good

I saw this article on Psyblog discussing how our values help to determine our tastes. For example if people think eating meat is murder to animals, than very few people will eat meat products.

The article discusses various studies that prove the theory as to whether or not our beliefs or values help us to determine what is okay to eat. The studies ranged from people eating sausage rolls that were made from beef to eating sausage rolls that were made from artificial meat (vegetarian meat). The study switched the labels of the two meats. The study showed that those who consumed the meat labeled vegetarian thought it was tastier even though the vegetarian meat was really beef meat. Therefore confirming the fact that our social values help us to determine the types of food that we consume. This study was performed with Pepsi verses Coca Cola. Pepsi is known for using slogans that discuss youthfulness and generation. However when the labels were switched the majority of the testers preferred Coca Cola to Pepsi.

The article goes on to discuss organic foods, marketing values, and beer. The point the article makes is that marketing or psychology helps influence whether people eat organic food or non organic and the same thing for beer. Many people claim that organic food is healthier for you and tastes better; therefore organic producers are hoping for people to buy into the psychology of the items. Beer is more of a social marketing strategy. For example if a person were to drink beer on their own; they would most likely find the taste repulsive, but when around a group of people they drink it because others are drinking it. Thus, each situation is playing off your values.

I agree with some of the points in this article. With that being said, I know personally that I am one of the most finicky eaters. I severely dislike certain foods and it has nothing to do with my values. Ever since I was little I have hated fish and seafood. My friends like fish and the majority of family likes fish. My values do not dictate my dislike in food because for lent we are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays. (most people eat fish during this time). I absolutely hate fish and seafood. For this reason alone, I question the accuracy of these studies.

I was wondering if what you think of this article and whether or not you find it to be accurate.