Why We Melt at Puppy Pictures
Have you ever wondered why people think some babies are cute and some aren't? Have you ever wondered what defines a baby's 'cute' rating? Today I read an article that talks about this subject.
Mammalian babies all look the same: short snouts, high foreheads, round faces, big eyes. And we love it. The more a particular baby’s features accentuate those traits, the cuter we rate the face. People, including children, prefer pictures of babies over those of adults, and they prefer cute babies over un-cute ones. Studies that image your brain show that pictures that are 'cute' make you release more dopamine when you look at them, making you feel good.
Another reason we think some babies are cute and some aren't is that baby features, it is thought, evolved to “release” caregiving behavior in adults—an adaptation that is no news to parents. Researchers have found that pictures of babies make their viewers more precise and careful in fine motor tasks, and make them pay more attention to small details. Cuter babies elicit a deeper protective impulse: When subjects were shown pictures of babies and asked to rate their motivation to care for them, they were more inclined to attend to the beguiling beauties.
I have always wondered why some people think some babies look cuter than others. Finally, I have found an answer.
Mammalian babies all look the same: short snouts, high foreheads, round faces, big eyes. And we love it. The more a particular baby’s features accentuate those traits, the cuter we rate the face. People, including children, prefer pictures of babies over those of adults, and they prefer cute babies over un-cute ones. Studies that image your brain show that pictures that are 'cute' make you release more dopamine when you look at them, making you feel good.
Another reason we think some babies are cute and some aren't is that baby features, it is thought, evolved to “release” caregiving behavior in adults—an adaptation that is no news to parents. Researchers have found that pictures of babies make their viewers more precise and careful in fine motor tasks, and make them pay more attention to small details. Cuter babies elicit a deeper protective impulse: When subjects were shown pictures of babies and asked to rate their motivation to care for them, they were more inclined to attend to the beguiling beauties.
I have always wondered why some people think some babies look cuter than others. Finally, I have found an answer.
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