It's the timing that's the important part. People learn really quickly not to push their hands against sharp or hot objects, because the pain feedback is instan

It's the timing that's the important part. People learn really quickly not to push their hands against sharp or hot objects, because the pain feedback is instant and biologically determined. And they learn to like sweet and salty things for the same reason - their taste buds tell them to like it. But a much more challenging thing is to learn a concept like "several days after you get injured, an unclean wound will be infected". That knowledge involves visualizing into the far future, and applying knowledge that was told to you, not direct prior experiences.