Cuteness 1204666 224930473 2008-07-11T01:36:26Z VegaDark 680693 Changed protection level for "[[Cuteness]]": heavy vandalism by multiple IP's [edit=autoconfirmed:move=sysop] (expires 12:00, 10 August 2008 (UTC)) {{Redirect|Cute}} <!-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DO NOT ADD ANY IMAGES WITHOUT * * PROVIDING ACCORDING RELIABLE SOURCES * * * * ANY IMAGE ADDED WITHOUT RELIABLE SOURCES * * TO VERIFY THAT THE DEPICTED ANIMAL OR * * OTHER OBJECT HAS BEEN NOTABLY REFERRED TO * * AS CUTE WILL BE REMOVED AS ORIGINAL RESEARCH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -->[[Image:Kopfproportionen.gif|thumb|300px|Change of head proportions (especially the relative size of the [[maxilla]] and [[mandible]]) as a function of age.]] '''Cuteness''' is a kind of [[Physical attractiveness|attractiveness]] commonly associated with [[youth]] and [[Human physical appearance|appearance]], as well as a scientific concept and analytical model in [[ethology]], first introduced by [[Konrad Lorenz]]. It 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 small nose, [[dimple]]s, 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. ==Psychology of cuteness== <!-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DO NOT ADD ANY IMAGES WITHOUT * * PROVIDING ACCORDING RELIABLE SOURCES * * * * ANY IMAGE ADDED WITHOUT RELIABLE SOURCES * * TO VERIFY THAT THE DEPICTED ANIMAL OR * * OTHER OBJECT HAS BEEN NOTABLY REFERRED TO * * AS CUTE WILL BE REMOVED AS ORIGINAL RESEARCH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --> [[Image:Knut IMG 8095.jpg|thumb|[[Knut (polar bear)|Knut]], a young [[polar bear]] at the [[Berlin Zoo]], has been referred to in news media as "cute".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6750000/newsid_6755400/6755447.stm In pictures: Polar bear Knut is growing up] - see 2nd picture</ref>]] Konrad Lorenz argued in 1949 that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in [[adult]]s and that this was an [[evolution]]ary 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&mdash;with big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.&mdash;than to animals that do not. That is, humans prefer animals which exhibit [[pedomorphosis]]. Pedomorphosis is the retention of child-like characteristics&mdash;such as big heads or large eyes&mdash;into adulthood. Thus, pedomorphosis and cuteness may explain the popularity of [[Giant Panda]]s and [[Koala]]s. The widely perceived cuteness of domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, may be due to the fact that humans selectively breed their [[pet]]s 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 [[stereotype|stereotypically]] cute. Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness&mdash;and to facial attractiveness generally&mdash;seem to be similar across and within cultures.<ref>http://www.winchester.ac.uk/view.ashx?Item=15993</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/03/06_triceratops.shtml 03.06.2006 - Smallest Triceratops skull described<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Cultural significance== <!-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DO NOT ADD ANY IMAGES WITHOUT * * PROVIDING ACCORDING RELIABLE SOURCES * * * * ANY IMAGE ADDED WITHOUT RELIABLE SOURCES * * TO VERIFY THAT THE DEPICTED ANIMAL OR * * OTHER OBJECT HAS BEEN NOTABLY REFERRED TO * * AS CUTE WILL BE REMOVED AS ORIGINAL RESEARCH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --> Cuteness is a major [[marketing]] tool in many [[culture]]s, 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]], ''[[The Family Circus]]'', [[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 [[penguin]]s was cited as a major reason for the film's outstanding appeal.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} This technique was repeated in the [[computer animation|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&mdash;with bigger [[head]], bigger [[eye]]s, and so forth. Gould suggested that this change in Mickey's image was intended to increase his popularity by making him appear cuter. ==See also== * [[Cuteness in Japanese culture]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==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. ([http://www.monmsci.net/~kbaldwin/mickey.pdf 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]]. ''[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/03/science/03cute.html?ex=1293944400&en=9942fdaf51f1211c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss The Cute Factor]''. The New York Times, 2006-01-03. *[[Jeanne Moos]]. ''The Science of Cuteness/Cutie Contest'', [[CNN]] Headline News, 2006-12-17. [http://dynamic.cnn.com/apps/tp/video/moos/2006/12/15/moos.whos.cuter.affl/video.ws_noads.asx video] *Ilya Garger. ''[http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20070319-000004.html Hello Kitty: One Nation Under Cute]''. [[Psychology Today]], Mar/Apr 2007. [[Category:Developmental biology]] [[Category:Ethology]] [[Category:Social psychology]] [[Category:Physical attractiveness]] [[de:Kindchenschema]] [[fr:Mignon]] [[hu:Aranyosság]] [[th:ความน่ารัก]] [[ja:可愛い]] [[zh:可愛]]