'We might think about being cute as a kind of superpower that babies (or puppies) possess—a power that helps them secure protection, food, and other resources from caregivers.'
Cute beings, like infants and kittens, activate the parental care system.
The parental care system affects a wide range of psychological and behavioral inclinations, from interest in casual sex to our political views.Source: Michael E. W. VarnumIn some ways very little. What does my daughter at age 2 have in common with a robot? But they do share some important similarities. They are both adorable. Both probably caused you to have a similar reaction: “Awww! Isn’t that cute?” It turns out that this response may actually be a distinct emotion.
In a sequence of studies, O’Neil and Shiota explored whether and how we respond to cute things. They found that when people were shown videos of cute children or baby animals, they tended to spontaneously make one of two facial expressions, which are distinct from those associated with other positive emotions.
This cuteness response is part of a broader suite of psychological and behavioral tendencies which have been dubbed the parental care system . Interestingly, research involving over 15,000 people in 42 societies found that this is typically one of the strongest motivations people possess . It’s stronger that ourto avoid infectious disease, gain status, or find new mates. And during the pandemic, it appears to have actually gotten stronger .
Beyond driving us to be nurturing and protective toward those we find cute, this system also causes us to avoid taking risks, reduces our trust in strangers, and makes us less interested in seeking out one-night stands . All of these psychological effects arguably increase the odds that we will invest in children and keep them safe. This parental care motivation also appears to affect our political preferences.
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