The formation of preferences or tastes and the role tastes play in consumer behavior provide the underlying themes of Accounting for Tastes . Becker's goal in explaining this role is to extend the assumption that individuals behave in ways that maximize utility based on preferences independent of past and future behaviors. Becker's work shows that economic theory can be fruitfully applied to a wide range of questions in the social sciences. He has extended the borders of economics by applying an economic approach to the analysis of a number of questions considered by some to be primarily within the domain of social sciences other than economics. [ Accounting for Tastes ] is thought provoking.