Have you ever wondered why many of us find baby animals so cute? Apparently, there's a scientific reason. It's not "just because."
According to Britannica, cuteness serves a purpose when it comes to survival, particularly in species whose young cannot live on their own right away. "People are drawn to babies, and it’s their body proportions (large head, large eyes, and small mouth, compared with the rest of the body) that may be an evolutionary trigger or a reminder that nurturing our young is an important adaptation for our long-term survival as a species," reads the site.
Humans subconsciously know that babies are helpless. And affection and our instinct to protect them kicks in - whether or not they're related to us. Or have two legs or four.
There's a whole science to cuteness. And people like Marc Bornstein from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Oxford's Morten L. Kringelbach and Catherine Alexander were curious enough to study it.
The researchers say cuteness works by involving all the senses and strongly attracting our attention by sparking rapid brain activity. In fact, cuteness may be one of the strongest forces that shape our behaviour – potentially making us more compassionate.
#4
Day 3 was no different. Again, with Leonard by her side, the formerly unloved dog ran along for that 26-mile stretch.
#6
The experts say that cuteness can help to facilitate well-being and complex social relationships. This is because it activates brain networks associated with emotion and pleasure, and triggers empathy and compassion.
"When we encounter something cute, it ignites fast brain activity in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which are linked to emotion and pleasure," writes Kringelbach. "It also attracts our attention in a biased way: babies have privileged access to entering conscious awareness in our brains."
If you think you feel happier after scrolling through this list, it's not only in your imagination.
"Studies have shown that the simple act of looking at cute animals can stimulate oxytocin release, leading to feelings of warmth, gentleness, and a general sense of well-being," reports Mirage News. "This biochemical response strengthens our emotional bond with these creatures, further enhancing their perceived cuteness."
#10
#11
#16
