Cuteness 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 pleasantly fair, though not necessarily small nose, dimples, 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.Konrad Lorenz argued in 1949 that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults and that this was an evolutionary 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—with big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.—than to animals that do not.That is, humans prefer animals which exhibit pedomorphosis. Pedomorphosis is the retention of child-like characteristics—such as big heads or large eyes—into adulthood. Thus, pedomorphosis and cuteness may explain the popularity of Giant Pandas and Koalas. The widely perceived cuteness of domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, may be due to the fact that humans selectively breed their pets 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 stereotypically cute. Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness—and to facial attractiveness generally—seem to be similar across and within cultures.[1]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.
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Cuteness 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 pleasantly fair, though not necessarily small nose, dimples, 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.Konrad Lorenz argued in 1949 that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults and that this was an evolutionary 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—with big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.—than to animals that do not.That is, humans prefer animals which exhibit pedomorphosis. Pedomorphosis is the retention of child-like characteristics—such as big heads or large eyes—into adulthood. Thus, pedomorphosis and cuteness may explain the popularity of Giant Pandas and Koalas. The widely perceived cuteness of domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, may be due to the fact that humans selectively breed their pets 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 stereotypically cute. Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness—and to facial attractiveness generally—seem to be similar across and within cultures.[1]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.
[洛倫茲於1949年指出，幼童的可愛特質能夠引發成人的養育之心，確保幼童能夠受到妥善的照顧。這是一種演化上的適應，確保了人類的延續。他也指出，證據表明人類對較可愛的動物互動較頻繁，這些可愛的動物有著大眼、大頭、短鼻等特徵。也就是說，人類喜愛有明顯幼體性熟（pedomorphosis）特徵的動物。所謂幼體滯留是個體雖然達到成年的階段，仍然殘存著幼體的特徵，包括大頭或大眼。因此，這也就足以解釋為何大熊貓或無尾熊那麼受歡迎。狗或貓普遍被認為很可愛，也許是因為人類喜愛豢養有幼體特徵的寵物，同時也認為牠們較不具攻擊性。某些晚近的研究進一步證實了洛倫茲的理論。例如，成年的人類對嬰兒互動很頻繁。研究也發現，可愛特徵與臉部對人類的吸引力似乎都大同小異，不分哪個文化都一樣。[2]除此之外，對可愛的心理反應不只限於人類。許多幼小的哺乳類和鳥類都有共同的典型的生理特徵，一眼就能看出牠們和成熟的個體是有差別的。最近對幼年三角龍頭骨的研究也發現，可愛是一種既古老又非常有用的生存之道