There's no denying that human babies are cute - but even other species tend to have adorable
infants. So why has science conditioned us to find babies so precious? Is there something
specific that triggers our urge to hold and squeeze them?
Interestingly, studies have found that macaque monkeys pay little attention to newborn faces,
leading researchers to believe that the 'cute feeling' may be an entirely human trait. Unlike
many other species, once born, human babies are completely dependent on their parents
for survival. As a result, humans have adapted to find certain traits aesthetically pleasing
and downright adorable, in effort to increase interaction, care and protection from parents.
This in turn enhances offspring survival, and perpetuates our species. But what exactly
makes something seem 'cute'?
Known as Baby Schema, scientists have come up with a set of tested traits that make something
appear cute. These include a large rounded head relative to the body, large eyes below
the midline of the face, protruding cheeks, a big forehead, round body and soft surfaces.
Awwwh! And no doubt, our species is born with fully grow large eyes, almost full sized brains,
soft skin, big cheeks and round bodies.
In fact, in tests where baby photos are manipulated to have more baby schema traits - whether
they're human babies or dogs and cats, for example - they are rated as cuter, and participants
felt a stronger motivation to take care of these babies. Even when the front of cars
were altered in accordance to the baby schema - like making the headlights become larger
to mimic big eyes - participants experienced a more positive response.
It turns out, it's all in our head. When viewing babies with enhanced baby schema proportions,
the mesocorticolimbic system of our brain is activated. These parts of the brain enhance
the anticipation of a reward, and can lead to a sense of enjoyment, motivation to care
for something and the urge to cuddle or hold an object.
But what about things that...aren't...so cute? In fact, some creatures are downright ugly?
So what does science have to say about these? Our friends at Earth Unplugged have answered
this very question in our collaboration on animals - so click on the screen, or on the
link in the description to find out. Huge thanks to the team at Earth Unplugged for
providing us with all this footage. Go watch their video and follow them for even more
amazing content.
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