Why we react the way we do to cute animals, explained.

[Spang]

Most of us have been there: that bouncing puppy, string-chasing kitty or gurgling baby suddenly seems so overwhelming cute that we want to squeeze, pinch or shake that source of adorable to death. Don’t worry—you are not deranged, and you are not alone. This seemingly out of place aggressive behavior to the world’s most cuddly and lovable critters is actually the norm, researchers recently announced at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, LiveScience reports.

The researchers gave subjects a few sheets of bubble wrap and showed them images of adorable animals, funny pictures or random shots of neutral objects. Participants who saw the cute animals popped 120 bubbles, on average. Viewers of the funny slideshow popped 80 bubbles for the funny slideshow; people looking at the neutral objects popped around 100. (Maybe they were bored?) The researches concluded that destructive feelings towards cuteness are commonplace.

Some people verbalize these feelings— think about the phrase “I want to eat you up!”—while others act on them. It’s not that people actually want to hurt a basketful of kittens or a fluffy little duckling. They may just be frustrated because they can’t give that baby walrus pictured on the internet a big hug. Or they may be overwhelmed by positive feelings of joy. Sometimes, we just can’t handle all of that happiness. Think Miss America sobbing as she gets the crown.

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[Freesia]

Neurology is interesting.

 

[ledboots]

That is interesting.
Like people having the strange compulsion to pinch a fat baby's cheeks.

 

[Tom L.]

^^^ I think I want to kiss or tweak your otter avatar's nose, but I can't see it...

 

[ledboots]

^^^ I think I want to kiss or tweak your otter avatar's nose, but I can't see it...

I need to resize.
Eta:I just changed it instead.

 

[FortyTwo]

There are people who act aggressively when they see cute animals?

 

[KLS52]

Animals and babies...I have been known to want to sqweeeeeeeze anything cute, really tight. Never really thought of it as aggression, as it's never meant to want to inflict harm. It's more like you can't stand the cuteness... It's too overwhelming. I suppose I'm not helping my case much.

 

[Tom L.]

I need to resize.
Eta:I just changed it instead.

It isn't as cute, but it's still interesting! Just as well... an overdose of cuteness depletes my testosterone too much.

Animals and babies...I have been known to want to sqweeeeeeeze anything cute, really tight. Never really thought of it as aggression, as it's never meant to want to inflict harm. It's more like you can't stand the cuteness... It's too overwhelming. I suppose I'm not helping my case much.

I suppose you're familiar with icanhazcheeseburger.com? (I might have mis-spelled the web address...) Every time someone posts a picture that goes overboard in the "cute" department, which is like every half-hour or so, supposedly people's heads start going "splort" and someone has to put their brains back in place.

 

[FortyTwo]

It isn't as cute, but it's still interesting! Just as well... an overdose of cuteness depletes my testosterone too much.

I used to worry about "depleting my testosterone" but then I, uh, look at my avatar?

 

[Moll Flanders]

Animals and babies...I have been known to want to sqweeeeeeeze anything cute, really tight. Never really thought of it as aggression, as it's never meant to want to inflict harm. It's more like you can't stand the cuteness... It's too overwhelming. I suppose I'm not helping my case much.

I know what you mean.