When we see something cute, like a small kitten or a puppy, we often can’t help but want to touch it or even squeeze it. But why? Scientists have spent many years trying to figure out what makes something cute. Way back in 1943, a scientist made a list of things that make babies look cute. Some of these were big eyes, chubby cheeks, and short arms and legs.
Most young animals have these cute features too. Scientists have found that when people look at pictures with these “cute” features, they can’t help but stare longer. These images even make certain parts of our brains, the ones linked to feelings and rewards, light up.
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Cuteness Affects Our Behavior
Not only do cute images make us feel good, but they also influence how we act. In one experiment, people were better at a game that required careful moves after seeing cute pictures. Another study showed that people recycle more when the recycling bins have cute images on them.
Why Are We Drawn To Cuteness?
Nobody knows for sure why we find cute things so appealing. One idea is that cute things make us want to take care of them. This idea comes from the fact that human babies need a lot of help when they’re young. It’s thought that babies who are seen as cute get more care and attention.
Cuteness in Animals
Interestingly, as we started to keep animals as pets, their looks changed to become cuter over time. This is known as “domestication syndrome”. Some animals began to look more like babies as they became tamer. For example, they developed floppy ears, shorter snouts, and smaller jaws.
The Urge to Squeeze Cute Things
But why do we want to squeeze cute things if cuteness makes us want to care for them? Well, this is where “cute aggression” comes in. Cute aggression doesn’t mean we actually want to hurt the cute thing.
Rather, scientists think it’s our brain’s way of handling too many positive feelings. In other words, we feel so happy when we see something cute that our brains can’t handle it. So, we get these weird, aggressive thoughts as a way to calm ourselves down.
To conclude, cuteness is a powerful thing. It grabs our attention, makes us feel good, and even influences how we behave. Despite its innocent appearance, cuteness has a strong hold over us.
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