Why do humans think stuff is cute?

[zombiejoe]

I just wondering, because it seems bit odd. I understand that if we find babies cute we want to take care of them. But on an evolutionary stand point, why do we find other things cute. Humans, I understand, but why do we find other creatures, and cartoon stuff adorable?

 

[Avaholic03]

Studies have been done. It has to do with the proportions of an infant triggering maternal/paternal instincts, so if other things remind us of those proportions (generally, larger eyes, small delicate features, etc.) then we're programmed to find them "cute".

 

[Cody211282]

Because we want to

 

[xdgt]

Because we are used to judging things by their looks, and things we find cute have similar aesthetical qualities as for instance babies(or whatever it is for the specific person), we treat things as though they were human so something that looks cute is considered cute.

 

[Sewblon]

It could be that it signals creatures we can form a potential symbiotic relationship with. Or people could just be complicated.

 

[likalaruku]

I think human babies make Uncle Fester look cute, but I sure do like baby animals.

When a human baby cries; it's annoying. When a baby animal squeaks for attention/food; it's addorable.

 

[zehydra]

I like to think it's because of paternal/maternal instinct. When we see something that resembles a child/baby it tugs on that instinct.

 

[Diligent]

Studies have been done. It has to do with the proportions of an infant triggering maternal/paternal instincts, so if other things remind us of those proportions (generally, larger eyes, small delicate features, etc.) then we're programmed to find them "cute".

I've heard this before, and it explains things like kittens but it doesn't explain how if you show a girl a mini teacup or something, she'll go "Awwwwww, cute!"

Therefore, cuteness also has to do with size. And how funny it is. And if something is particularly round. Or the right colour.
...
On second thought, I know nothing about why things are cute.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

Because they are pleasing to the optics? I don't know, because they are cute.

 

[Pokenator]

I can't answer for inanimate objects, but for cartoons and baby animals etc, I think it's a combination of maternal/paternal instinct and supernormal stimulus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernormal_Stimuli) which is why we all love anime characters drawn with large eyes, small noses and super-expressive faces etc.

 

[thiosk]

Ok, so my cat is sitting on the couch, right. I got my squirtgun for keeping her from scratching the furniture. I point it at her, menacingly. She comes over and puts her mouth on it. I squirt it, and she sits there and laps up the water from the squirt gun. I just keep squirting it, and she just keeps drinking it.

Hilariously cute.

It will be youtubed when i find a camera.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I think human babies make Uncle Fester look cute, but I sure do like baby animals.

When a human baby cries; it's annoying. When a baby animal squeaks for attention/food; it's addorable.

One hundred percent agreed, my good Sir/lady

 

[Anarchemitis]

A Neurologist specializing in the Frontal Lobe would love to talk with you at great length about this.

 

[OmegaXzors]

Honestly, I don't find babies to be cute in any manner whatsoever. They drool over themselves, defecate and urinate upon themselves, and are just disgustingly riddled little beings. Sure, you may argue that they can't help it, but it doesn't argue with the fact that baby puppies and kittens are way fucking cuter than a nasty little human child.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Cuteness is our evaluation of something's lack of a threat-level.
We look at hamsters or bunnies and we think "this can't harm us, it would make a nice little harmless thing to talk at and deal with my stress".

We don't think it consciously, probably, but I would wager that's the rough translation of what your sub-conscious was going for.

 

[Lizardon]

I thinks it's something to do with protectiveness. We see a baby and think it's cute and so we tend to be gentle with it.

 

[ultrachicken]

To alleviate stress?
If everything is just plain then life can become depressing, so it might have more psychological features. Also, it doesn't harm us, so there's no reason for evolution to get rid of it, the same way we haven't lost eyebrows or hair.

 

[HassEsser]

Because, oh em gee, that's why.

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

I think human babies make Uncle Fester look cute, but I sure do like baby animals.

When a human baby cries; it's annoying. When a baby animal squeaks for attention/food; it's addorable.

That's because it's not your baby, so you're competitive desire to pass on your own (and only your own) genetic material has you more inclined to kill and eat the thing than care for it.

You are not in direct genetic competition with non-humans, so baby animals are cute.

 

[YouCallMeNighthawk]

I will never understand how girls can find a handbag cute o.0