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Kittens, puppies, bunnies, sea otters, baby fur seals, hedgehogs.
A round-cheeked baby or dapper-dressed toddler.
Anything teeny-tiny, miniature, or that looks babyish, with wide eyes and chubby cheeks.
Keren Su / Getty Images
Most of us find these things downright cute and endearing.
They make us go, Awwwwww!
and may even compel us to reach out to cuddle or squeeze them.
But have you ever asked yourself why that is?
What is the psychology behind cuteness?
And how does cuteness influence our feelings, behaviors, and social interactions?
These are interesting (and fun!)
questions, all of which well explore here, along with expert input.
Why Are Humans Attracted to Cute Things?
Humans are naturallyand pretty universallydrawn to things that are cute.
Things we deem cute can include people,animals, toys, objects, and even noises or scenery.
This is due to a need to protect and nurture weak offspring which ensures the survival of the species.
Moreover, this drive to care for our young helps our species survive.
What Determines What We Think Is Cute Or Not?
Cute bodies are usually soft and round with small extremities.
But what we think of as cute is also very individual.
This might be due to our emotional or personal connections with an individual or object, Dr. Hafeez notes.
Cuteness elicits a response in the rewards center of our brain, says Dr. Hafeez.
Psychological Effects of Cuteness
Cute things or people can have profound and intense impacts on ouremotionsand behaviors.
But sometimes, cuteness can trigger a seemingly opposite responsea more aggressive behavior.
You may even feel compelled to say things like, I could eat you up, says Dr. Hafeez.
It’s thought that cute aggression helps balance the excitement and affection triggered by cuteness, preventing emotional overload.
Thats because cuteness can bring people together.
Cuteness encourages helpful behavior such as caring for others, helping, and social affiliation, Dr. Valdez describes.
The feel-good qualities of cuteness are seen often in popular culture.
Such feelings can affect spending patterns, strengthening ties to the brand or cause.
2021;1344:57-69. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-81147-1_4
- Stavropoulos KKM, Alba LA.Its so Cute I Could Crush It!
Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Cute Aggression.Front Behav Neurosci.
