The feeling that something is cute can be hard to explain, especially from a scientific standpoint. While more than 1000 research studies have been conducted on emotions such as fear, fewer than 10 have focused on what we think is “cute”—despite the prevalence of cuteness in marketing, fashion, and design. One thing we do know: Cuteness is connected to size, and small things are far more likely to be considered cute (and squeezable) than large ones are. Here's what science has to say about why we're drawn to all things smol—whether they're puppies, kittens, babies, dollhouses, tiny foods, or figurines—and the effect they have on us.
In 1943, Nobel laureate Konrad Lorenz, one of the founding fathers of ethology (animal behavior), proposed that features like a rounded head, small size, and big eyes—what are called neotenic, or baby-animal, characteristics—promote parental care. This nurturing response can serve to enhance offspring survival, and has been described as a fundamental function of human social cognition. Recent studies have extended the concept of cuteness to auditory and olfactory cues (baby laughter, or that new baby smell) that prompt affection and caregiving.
Interestingly, some research suggests that we don’t just think that small things are cute, but also that cute things are smaller than their actual size. For instance, mothers misperceive their youngest kids as much shorter than they are in reality, an illusion that may result in their allocating greater care and resources to the last-born child.
Cuteness motivates us to protect the object of our affection, turning us into focused, gentle caretakers. In a 2009 study, scientists reported that participants that viewed very cute images of puppies and kittens performed better in the children’s game Operation than participants that saw less-cute images of dogs and cats. Subsequent research, by Hiroshi Nittono and his colleagues at Hiroshima University in Japan, found that cuteness improves our performance at times when we need to be careful: Flimsy tiny furniture and other miniature collectibles may seem cute because we know that they could break unless we handle them delicately.
Cuteness in human infants has been linked to their helplessness. Small objects, by virtue of their size, tend to pose little danger. “One of the critical features that make a thing cute is the absence of feeling threatened. Small things are likely to meet this condition,” Nittono tells Mental Floss.
Cuteness extends to inanimate objects such as dolls and other toys. Teddy bears have changed over time to look cuter and more baby-like, and a similar anthropomorphic process has affected the "faces" of cars. Miniatures may look cute, in addition, because we connect them with toys and child play. Because young children are cute, their toys and other possessions may become cute by association.
Of course, big things can be cute as well, Nittono says, especially if they possess other baby-like characteristics: “You may find a big, human-sized teddy bear to be cute—sometimes cuter than a small one.”
As Bustle reported, miniature dollhouses and buildings allow their owners to escape into scenarios that are vastly different from their everyday lives, and which they can command completely. “The famous psychologist Dr. Ruth,” writes JR Thorpe, “had a therapy dollhouse with which she helped children to work through serious issues.” The houses were also beneficial for the doctor herself, because they “represented a control that she, as a child refugee fleeing the Nazis, had lacked.”
6. Our brains are drawn to all the tiny details.
Miniatures are compact: They condense lots of intricate visuals within a very limited space. That richness of features makes them highly appealing to our senses. Research has shown that our gaze—and likely our touch too—is drawn to the regions of a scene or object that hold the most information. Part of our attraction to miniatures may be that they provide our sensory-seeking brains with highly concentrated dosages of tantalizing stimulation.
When we encounter something cute, it ignites fast brain activity in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which are linked to emotion and pleasure. It also attracts our attention in a biased way: babies have privileged access to entering conscious awareness in our brains.
When we encounter something cute, it ignites fast brain activity in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which are linked to emotion and pleasure. It also attracts our attention in a biased way: babies have privileged access to entering conscious awareness in our brains.
Anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss suggests in The Savage Mind that we derive satisfaction from minuscule objects because we can see and comprehend them in their entirety, which makes them less threatening. Essentially, tiny towns, toy soldiers, and miniature tea sets make us feel like gods…or Godzillas.
The feeling of intense euphoria after seeing cute things is not an isolated incidence. Kittens trigger serotonin and dopamine in people's brains, making them more loveable to people. The simple phrase of “awh” can't help but escape your lips when you see big brown eyes and a delicate button nose.
Oxytocin is not the only hormone involved. "Dopamine is one of the most important hormones that trigger happiness and a positive emotional response," Sehat says. "Whenever we see tiny things we find cute and attractive, our brain releases dopamine and makes us feel happy."
In psychology, the phenomenon is called cute aggression, which may include desires to squeeze, crush, pinch, or even bite an object of our affection. But cute aggression doesn't appear to be motivated by vicious intent. Instead, scientists think it is a way we cope with intense positive emotions.
Known as “cute aggression,” apparently it's totally normal. Looks like you're not a total weirdo. Cute aggression is when people feel a destructive urge — usually to eat or squeeze — when they see something adorable, such as a kitten or a baby.
The difference is that women's bodies usually release higher levels of oxytocin into their bloodstream than men's do. So the difference in hormones is part of why cute things appeal more to women than to men--women get a bigger oxytocin surge out of it.
Minis delight the masses because they're readily recognizable, universal objects—simply shrunk down, with impossible detail achieved through impeccable craftsmanship.
Human beings are naturally wired to seek out connections, whether with other humans, animals, or even inanimate objects. We're empathetic creatures, capable of projecting emotions onto the world around us, even when those emotions aren't objectively present. This phenomenon is known as anthropomorphism.
Cuteness is a type of attractiveness commonly associated with youth and appearance, as well as a scientific concept and analytical model in ethology, first introduced by Austrian ethologist Konrad Lorenz.
While physical attractiveness is by definition superficial, research has found that it offers distinct advantages in personal, social, and professional realms.
Our brains, experience a pleasant emotional reaction when we view something charming, such an adorable baby animal or a cartoon character with large eyes and little features. The release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter connected to pleasure and reward, is frequently linked to this reaction.
By activating glutamate receptors in the brain that trigger an anticipatory sense of reward and enjoyment, we are compelled to seek more of the cute things we encounter, whether that means holding, cuddling or cooing over them [sources: Borrell, Guo et al.].
Life is a journey made up of many moments, big and small. While we often focus on significant milestones, the little things make life truly meaningful. The small moments of joy, love, and connection we experience each day give our lives meaning and purpose.
Moreover, small things in our lives help us stay present in the moment. When we focus on the small things, we are forced to slow down and pay attention to what's happening right now. This mindfulness helps us reduce stress and anxiety and stay connected to our surroundings.
We're evolutionarily hardwired to care for adorable, chubby babies, and may feel those same nurturing feelings toward certain animals. Doting on round, cute creatures can be one way we experience joy, Lee says, because they give us feedback through touch and responsiveness that tells us we're doing something good.
Psychologists say that the main reason why humans find their children to be adorable is because it inspires a nurturing response, encouraging adults to take care of the younger generations. Even further, studies have found that we pay more attention to babies that are cute over not-so-cute babies.
Studies have shown that the simple act of looking at cute animals can stimulate oxytocin release, leading to feelings of warmth, gentleness, and a general sense of well-being. This biochemical response strengthens our emotional bond with these creatures, further enhancing their perceived cuteness.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
