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Did you know, the question, “What do you want for lunch?” is partly determined by human evolution?

It’s a fact that your evolutionary wiring has a considerable say over what appears on your plate.

Not so long ago, you had just a small handful of stations from which to choose on television or the radio.

Today, media choices are abundant and often overwhelming – and algorithms are here to help you sort through it all. Algorithms, or data-crunching computer programs, can act as a filter to sift through the wealth of choice, presenting you with a selection of recommendations tailored to your tastes.

Would you be upset if a friend judged you based on the music you enjoyed?

Musical taste can shed light on a person’s character, as people listen to music for many reasons. Music is both a way to express individuality and belong to a community.

Does this sound familiar? When someone asks you why you like something, you respond with, “I don’t know why, I just do!”

Even if you don’t know why you like a certain clothing style or song, to explain to others your preferences, you will often construct a reason after the fact.

Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh died penniless, unsuccessful in his own time. The reason? Back then, many critics disliked the works of the Impressionists, preferring art that today is all but forgotten.

Tastes, styles and trends certainly change over time; the evidence is all around us. You probably have tons of embarrassing photos of yourself wearing clothes or sporting a hairstyle that you wouldn’t be caught dead with today!

Many people turn to experts for guidance for tasks in which they lack certain skills, such as cooking a fancy meal or choosing a bottle of wine. Experts are essentially high-caliber judges who have superior experience in a particular field.

We often act as judges ourselves, while watching a dancing or singing competition on television, for example. When we arrive at an opinion of a performance, we’re comparing this moment to everything we’ve seen and heard before. The more performances we watch, the more experience we gain; and over time, our judgment becomes more nuanced and informative, until we reach an “expert” level.