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Change of head proportions (especially the relative size of the maxilla and mandible) as a function of age

Cuteness is a subjective term describing a type of attractiveness commonly associated with youth and appearance, as well as a scientific concept and analytical model in ethology, first introduced by Konrad Lorenz. Cuteness may be ascribed to people as well as things that are regarded as attractive or charming.

Overview

Some frogs have been described as cute.

Cuteness is usually characterized by (though not limited to) some combination of infant-like physical traits, especially small body size with a disproportionately large head, large eyes, a pleasantly fair, though not necessarily small nose, dimples, and round and softer body features. Infantile personality traits, such as playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity, innocence, affectionate behavior, and a need to be nurtured are also generally considered cute.

Konrad Lorenz argued in 1949 that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults and that this was an evolutionary adaptation which helped ensure that adults cared for their children, ultimately securing the survival of the species. As evidence, Lorenz noted that humans react more positively to animals that resemble infants—with big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.—than to animals that do not.

That is, humans prefer animals which exhibit pedomorphosis. Pedomorphosis is the retention of child-like characteristics—such as big heads or large eyes—into adulthood. The widely perceived cuteness of domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, may be due to the fact that humans selectively breed their pets for infant-like characteristics, including non-aggressive behavior and child-like appearance.

Some later scientific studies have provided further evidence for Lorenz's theory. For example, it has been shown that human adults react positively to infants who are stereotypically cute. Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness—and to facial attractiveness in general—seem to be similar across and within cultures.

Additionally, the phenomenon is not restricted to humans. The young of many mammal and bird species share a similar set of typical physical proportions, beyond absolute body size, that distinguish them from adults of their own species. "Cute" features were also described in the recent finding of a baby Triceratops skull, suggesting that cuteness is an ancient and useful survival technique.

Gender differences

The perceived cuteness of an infant is influenced by the gender and behavior of the infant. In the Koyama et. al (2006) research, female infants are seen as beautiful, adorable, and cute by the physical attraction that female infants display more than male infants; whereas research by Karraker (1990) demonstrates that a caregiver's attention and involvement in the male infant's protection could be solely based on the perception of happiness and attractiveness of the child.

Cultural significance

Knut, a young polar bear at the Berlin Zoo, has been described in news media as cute.

Cuteness is a major marketing tool in many cultures, such as that of Japan, with phenomena such as Pokémon or Hello Kitty. It is also an important selling point in the English-speaking world, where Elmo, Furby, Precious Moments, and many other cultural icons and products trade on their cuteness. It can be a factor in live action productions such as movies starring Shirley Temple, the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids trilogy, the Three Men and a Baby duology, and elements of One Good Cop, as well the successful documentary film March of the Penguins, where the noteworthy cuteness of the penguins was cited as a major reason for the film's outstanding appeal. This technique was emulated in the computer-animated film Happy Feet.

Stephen Jay Gould remarked on this phenomenon in an article for the journal Natural History, in which he pointed out that over time Mickey Mouse had been drawn more and more to resemble an infant—with a bigger head, bigger eyes, and so forth. Gould suggested that this change in Mickey's image was intended to increase his popularity by making him appear cuter.

The perception of cuteness is culturally diverse. The differences across cultures can be significantly associated to the need to be socially accepted.

Caregiving correlates to cuteness

A study by Karraker (1990) suggested that “an adult's beliefs about the personality and expected behavior of an infant can influence the adult's interaction with the infant.” This study displayed results that "elicit the stereotype" that caregiver's care can be influenced by the cuteness/attractiveness of a child through one's beliefs, and gave evidence “that basic cuteness effects may occasionally be obscured in particular infants" where the beliefs of the adult are suggested to the sex of the infant and attractiveness. Karraker (1990) found that more attractive children, happy children, and male infants are more desirable in their research.

Glocker (2008) argued that the cuteness that an infant embodies can motivate the type of care one takes while caring for the infant. As evidence, Glocker allowed individuals to rate the level of attraction of pictured infants and noted the motivation that these participants had upon caring for the infants. The research suggested that the caregiver's response to the perceived cuteness of infants corresponded to higher levels of motivation to care for the infant.

Koyama (2006) said that an adult caregiver's perception of an infant's cuteness can motivate the amount of care and protection the caregiver provides, and the admiration demonstrated toward the infant, and concluded that "the adults’ protective feeling for children appeared to be a more important criterion for the judgment of a boy’s cuteness."

See also

• Cuteness in Japanese culture
• Neoteny
• Beauty

References

Further reading

• Stephen Jay Gould. A Biological Homage to Mickey Mouse, in The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History. W.W. Norton & Company, 1980. (web version)
• Konrad Lorenz. Part and Parcel in Animal and Human Societies, in Studies in animal and human behavior, vol. 2. pp. 115–195. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 1971 (originally pub. 1950).
• Natalie Angier. The Cute Factor. The New York Times, 2006-01-03.
• Jeanne Moos. The Science of Cuteness/Cutie Contest, CNN Headline News, 2006-12-17. video
• Ilya Garger. Hello Kitty: One Nation Under Cute. Psychology Today, Mar/Apr 2007.
• Richmond, Antonia (April 2, 2006). "Animal Rites -- Canine culture goes over the top". SFGate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/04/02/LVGG8HV28A1.DTL. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 

External links

• Cute on the Brain, Psychology Today, March 4, 2008