“Opinions are like assholes, everybody’s got one,” said some crass old man I encountered. Medium aside, the message is sound. We’ll examine the nuances of developing opinions in another piece. As for this one, we’re going to discuss the equally important process of developing taste.
You‘ve Already Started Developing Taste
Whether you realize it or not, you’ve already dedicated most of your life to developing taste. Since birth, you’ve been expressing preferences and annotating experiences. These are the core actions behind this process, and though they appear similar, there are differences. Specifically, differences in the developmental stage they begin.
Anybody who’s been around newborns knows they are masters of expressing preference, typically in the form of piercing wails. They are able to do this because although their cognitive development is low, they’re ability to detect internal and external biological cues is high. In fact, there are well-studied intonation patterns of cries depending on the newborn’s needs, which can be influenced by the native language. In other words, a French baby’s cry sounds different than an American baby’s.
As the newborn develops into an infant, language development begins, and they begin expressing their preferences in distinguishable phonetics and words. In tandem with language development is that of the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory formation. This is why it’s almost impossible for us to remember anything before the age of three, as the hippocampus isn’t fully developed.
Memories – Annotating our Experiences
Continuing on our developmental journey, as our language becomes more sophisticated and our brains continue to grow, so does our ability to annotate experiences. Ever more, we can attribute biological and non-biological sensations to single words or phrases, and connect these sensations to other experiences we’ve stored. This feedback loop continues throughout our lives, our preferences evolving alongside new experiences and the resulting neurological rewiring.
Subconsciously Developing Taste
All the processes described until now are conscious. We choose when and how to express our preferences and the language we use when committing them to memory. Or do we? If Becoming Polymathic has conveyed one message, it’s our brain is vastly more influential than we appreciate. Tangibly speaking, our brain is taking in exponentially more information, around 200,000 times more, than it’s allowing us to consciously recognize. This subconscious intake plays a massive role when it comes to developing taste.
As we know, the more stimuli activated, the greater volume of neural connections, the stronger the memory. Let’s illustrate the power of memories regarding developing taste with a quick story. You hate sushi. You give the reason “I tried it once and didn’t like it.” That’s fine, but you’re not providing the necessary context. The whole story is as follows:
You went out to sushi in your hometown when you were ten. Your hometown is hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Typically, this means the fish will be of lesser quality. You were forced to go with your parents on a Friday after they grounded you a couple days earlier. The restaurant is a cacophony of loud conversation and geisha music, both of which you don’t like. The first plate of Tako (Octopus) nigiri comes out. You try it, it tastes like a piece of rubber marinated in an aquarium. You refuse all remaining sushi, including some tasty Salmon sashimi and rolls. You leave the restaurant hungry, the aftertaste of Tako hanging in the back of your throat.
How to Develop Taste Using Four Simple Phrases
As with most of my examples, they are intentionally hyperbolic and novelistic. We all have or know somebody who has justified a preference in this manner. We also know or know of somebody who has changed their preference after a recent pleasurable experience. As we’ve seen, this change in preference is natural and expected. We’ve discussed the objective neurological underpinnings of taste; now we will conclude with its subjective development.
The Four Simple Phrases
Taking a step back, the genesis of this piece lies in a conversation I had with a friend who’s active in the food and beverage space. I always consult him before going to a new restaurant of trying to cook something new, as I don’t like to waste time on such matters. Side note – that last fragment is a great example of my subconscious stirring up past experience to influence present actions. One day, I asked him how he developed his own taste, which until now has always steered me right. His answer was four simple phrases:
- Don’t be afraid to try new things
- Don’t be influenced by the predispositions of others
- Express your like or dislike in simple language
- Don’t apologize
This simple tetralogy is ubiquitous whether you’re evaluating art, film, food, music, and even professional subjects. The benefits of abiding by these simple phrases are also beautifully simple. When you have developed taste, you’re likely to encounter others who share it. When you interact with these individuals, you’re able to annotate your own experiences and preferences with theirs, thus further advancing yours.
What you’ll end up with is a life full of the people and things you enjoy the most. Will it always be smooth? No. Will you be required to defend your taste at times? Yes. Will you loathe some aspects of your taste? Yes. Don’t let these obstacles deter you. There’s tremendous reward for building upon this journey you’ve already begun.
Be More.
Become Polymathic.
Quote of the Week: “Taste cannot be controlled by law.” – Thomas Jefferson