Cuteness- inborn or bred?

Cuteness- inborn or bred? [+ favourites]

Baby....cute. Kitten....cute. Puppy....cute.

Is our appreciation for cute things natural or socially constructed or a mix of both? Is cuteness innocence, lack of experience, and helplessness combined?

(Off topic: ever notice how we tilt our heads when we say "Awww..."?)

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Hahaha.. I really have to think about this one. I guess that, personally, I associate cute with images I would have "wanted" to see as a little girl. I think that as children we see things as black and white - good or bad. Big dogs = bad; tiny puppies = good. If something is frightening to a child, it isn't cute.

Need some perspective? http://www.cuteoverload.com/

"In the beginning, night was memory was water, and in the cool aquamarine depths dreams swam freely."

I gotta admit there's some pretty ugly babies out there. I'd say in general about half. I think cute has a good tie with charming.

"I love to see people struggling for their purpose in life..."

quote:

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Is our appreciation for cute things natural or socially constructed or a mix of both?

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"Speak out, even if what you have to say is unpopular"

Would this help in your evaluation?
http://www.codescripter.net/images/notcute.gif

"Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time"

I agree that society influences us, but the whole natural perception of cuteness boggles me. How is it that we have these instincts? How do they work?

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

hormones and sex cells. it sounds shallow because it is. accept it.

"Wht cry for those that often cry? Instead, help them smile, and smile for those that smile."

I can guess that much. But does anyone know the specifics?

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Attolia: 'Cuteness' is an evolutionary adaptation to ensure parents of organisms nurture their offspring. This is a trait that allows the success of the species. Humans react more positively to animals that appear infant—with usually large facial characteristics than to animals that do not. Physical features of 'cuteness' in youth are shared with many other young especially in the mammalian world- large, rounded heads relative to body length, large eyes, and small noses.This is known as paedomorphism. "Cuteness" is a physical cue that we are biologically predisposed to respond to with a feeling of love and caring.

"The summit is just a halfway point"
[  Edited by summit at   ]

id say sex cells have very little to do with it awakened, being as cute is usually accredited to very young animals or humans, cute as used to mean sexually attractive, is a different idea.

i would agree with summit, but would also say it is also only one of a number of factors, i think cute is there so we protect any young, of our own species or some others. there are other things that affect us with regard to our own offspring, even the parents of "ugly" or disfigured children care about them, and protect them.

there is also a tendency for anything classed as cute to be small, or at least compared to its parent creature. even when it is a guy describing a girl as cute, he is usually reffering to a petite slim girl.

"So Schrodinger's Cat is not only neither dead nor alive, but might also be sexually aroused by elbows and peanut butter?"

Summit, can you be more specific? Do you know (or can you direct me to any site that explains) the physiological details? Or do you know any good neuropsychology sites?

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

I learnt a little bit of it at uni. not sure about any good websites. I know of a book though:

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.)

I suggest search for- paedomorphism. even try googlescholar

"The summit is just a halfway point"

A science dedicated to the study of cuteness...I have now heard everything and have realized that people have far too much time on their hands.

"I love to see people struggling for their purpose in life..."

Don't underestimate cuteness. If it makes parents more likely to take care of their kids, I'd say it's a huge issue. The bigger issue it touches is why parents take care of offspring when offspring don't offer any material benefits.

"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"

Jacker- thats the same as saying there are studies dedicated to the pyschology of emotion such as love. If its part of natural behaviour, then its going to be significant within ethology and neuropsych industries.

"The summit is just a halfway point"
[  Edited by summit at   ]