Popular Mechanics: Cute aggression could have evolutionary benefits (2024)

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Popular Mechanics: Cute aggression could have evolutionary benefits? ›

The desire to squeeze a puppy or pinch a baby's cheeks might have an evolutionary basis that makes people better caretakers and contributes to our survival, Popular Mechanics reported.

Evolutionary explanation

Evolution serves as the ultimate explanation for understanding cute aggression, as it suggests that this seemingly paradoxical response may have provided adaptive advantages in human ancestors, aiding in the care and protection of vulnerable offspring.

Although cuteness can be a matter of personal preference, people tend to find young mammals cute and adorable, and this is likely part of an evolutionary development.

Biological function

Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness—and to facial attractiveness in general—seem to be similar across and within cultures. In a study conducted by Stephan Hamann of Emory University, he found using an fMRI, that cute pictures increased brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex.

Cute aggression is the brain's way of coping with the strong response in the brain's emotion and reward systems when we see cute things. The brain uses aggression to counterbalance the overwhelming positive emotions of the two systems. This phenomenon is called a dimorphous expression of emotion.

For evolutionary explanations, does aggression have any benefits? Aggression has benefits such as defeating sexual rivals and retaining mates.

Researchers have suggested the feelings of cute aggression could be a release valve for emotions when seeing something cute or act as a reminder to treat fragile babies with care.

Vestigiality is the retention, during the process of evolution, of genetically determined structures or attributes that have lost some or all of the ancestral function in a given species.

Cuteness in offspring is a potent protective mechanism that ensures survival for otherwise completely dependent infants.

Cuteness may make a dog seem vulnerable, but it's actually a highly effective evolutionary advantage. Being cute can cause humans to act more nurturing towards dogs and want to take care of them. Dogs can also quickly learn how to act cute and communicate their needs and wants with their owners.

Does cuteness release dopamine? ›

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.

Babies need constant attention and care to survive, and cuteness is one of the main ways they get it. This nurturing instinct could even be driving our wider perception of cuteness – research has shown that we typically feel affection for animals with juvenile features.

Those physical displays of what might look like aggression actually signal intense love. And they are perfectly normal, says Oriana Aragon, PhD, a social psychologist and assistant professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati.

It's called cute aggression or playful aggression. Cute aggression is a type of 'dimorphous expression'. That's when your external actions or expressions don't match what you're feeling on the inside. Another example of a dimorphous expression would be when you're so happy, you can't help but cry.

The urge to squish something cute might feel overwhelming but it's not uncontrollable. In fact, cute aggression responses like screaming or clenching your fist have a purpose. They help people gain control over their emotions to avoid acting on their feelings and causing harm to others.

Sexual-selection theory says that males are competing for reproductive success, so are more aggressive generally and especially to other males. It's human nature. Social-role theory says that differences are sociological, based on traditional divisions of labour.

The recalibration theory of anger suggests that anger serves an evolutionary purpose by motivating individuals to address perceived injustices and violations of social norms.

The second dominant theory about why we find many types of animals “cute,” in addition to the human infant theory, is that humans that saw animals to be cute were more likely to act kindly towards those animals, which made them more likely to survive.

Explanation: Evolutionary accounts of aggression primarily emphasize the role of aggression in securing a mate and resources and the significant contribution that genetics and likely hormones make to aggressive behavior.