Pizza Rorschach Test

I just returned from a very interesting trip to New York City, where I was fortunate enough to participate as a judge for an international pizza-making contest. While several of the pizzas were quite interesting (or at least unique), what I found most revealing were the comments of my fellow judges and the audience. It occurred to me that how someone responds to different variations of pizza may reveal quite a bit about a person.

Are you adventurous? Maybe you would like a kangaroo and emu pizza. Conservative? Go for the New York style cheese pie. Locked in to tradition? Only the pizza margherita will do.

What most surprised me is that a person’s pizza preferences didn’t always match how they may perceive themselves. When it comes to pizza, the most liberal Massachusetts Democrat can suddenly turn into a neo-fascist and a world traveler can become absolutely provincial. I also found myself wondering how otherwise-rational people can get so riled up about clearly subjective matters of taste.

It dawned on me that pizza is actually an edible Rorschach test. The next time you are with a group of friends give it a try. Put any kind of pizza in front of them, especially something that is outside their normal experience and listen to the comments. I’m betting they will reveal more about themselves during the course of the meal than they would while undergoing years of analysis, and they will enjoy it more too. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for a 50-minute hour on the couch why not visit your local pizzeria instead?

Save money, have a great meal and examine your psyche at the same time. Pizza therapy for everyone!