Have you ever wondered why babies are so adorable? Not just human babies, but even baby animals seem to have a special charm. Science has some interesting explanations for why we find babies so cute and why we feel the urge to care for them.
When human babies are born, they are completely dependent on their parents for survival. Because of this, humans have evolved to find certain baby features irresistible. This helps ensure that parents and others are motivated to care for and protect the babies, which increases their chances of survival and helps our species continue.
Scientists have identified a concept called “baby schema,” which includes specific traits that make something appear cute. These traits include a large, rounded head compared to the body, big eyes set low on the face, chubby cheeks, a big forehead, a round body, and soft skin. Human babies naturally have many of these features, like big eyes and soft skin, which make them look especially cute.
Research has shown that when pictures of babies (or even animals like puppies and kittens) are edited to enhance these baby schema traits, people find them even cuter. This makes them feel more motivated to care for these babies. Interestingly, even objects like cars can be designed to look cute by mimicking these traits, such as having large headlights that resemble big eyes.
When we see babies or objects with enhanced baby schema features, a part of our brain called the mesocorticolimbic system gets activated. This area of the brain is associated with feelings of reward and enjoyment. It makes us feel happy and encourages us to take care of the cute thing we are looking at, whether it’s a baby or a cute animal.
While many creatures are considered cute, some are not. Our friends at Earth Unplugged have explored why some animals might not be seen as cute. You can learn more about this by checking out their video. A big thank you to Earth Unplugged for their amazing footage. Don’t forget to watch their content and subscribe to ASAP Science for more fun science videos!
Draw or create a collage of a baby animal or human using the “baby schema” traits. Focus on features like big eyes, a round head, and chubby cheeks. Share your artwork with the class and explain how you incorporated these traits to make your subject look cute.
Think about everyday objects that could be made to look cute by applying the baby schema traits. Design your own version of a cute object, such as a car or a piece of furniture, and present your design to the class. Explain which traits you used and why they make the object appear cute.
Research how the mesocorticolimbic system in the brain responds to cute images. Create a short presentation or poster that explains this process and why it makes us feel happy. Share your findings with the class and discuss how this reaction might influence our behavior.
Watch a video from Earth Unplugged or ASAP Science about why some animals are considered cute and others are not. After watching, discuss with your classmates what you learned and how it relates to the concept of baby schema. Consider why certain animals might not fit the typical “cute” mold.
Create a survey to find out what features people in your community find cute in babies or animals. Include questions about specific traits like big eyes or chubby cheeks. Analyze the results and present your findings to the class, highlighting any patterns or surprising results.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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There’s no denying that human babies are cute, but even other species tend to have adorable infants. So why has science conditioned us to find babies so precious? Is there something specific that triggers our urge to hold and squeeze them? Interestingly, studies have found that macaque monkeys pay little attention to newborn faces, leading researchers to believe that the feeling of cuteness may be an entirely human trait.
Once born, human babies are completely dependent on their parents for survival. As a result, humans have adapted to find certain traits aesthetically pleasing and downright adorable to increase interaction, care, and protection from parents. This, in turn, enhances offspring survival and perpetuates our species.
But what exactly makes something seem cute? Known as “baby schema,” scientists have identified a set of traits that make something appear cute. These include a large rounded head relative to the body, large eyes below the midline of the face, protruding cheeks, a big forehead, a round body, and soft surfaces. Human babies are born with large eyes, almost full-size brains, soft skin, big cheeks, and round bodies.
In fact, studies have shown that when baby photos are manipulated to have more baby schema traits—whether they are human babies or animals like dogs and cats—they are rated as cuter. Participants felt a stronger motivation to care for these babies. Even when the front of cars was altered to mimic baby schema by making the headlights larger to resemble big eyes, participants experienced a more positive response.
It turns out it’s all in our heads. When viewing babies with enhanced baby schema proportions, the mesocorticolimbic system of our brain is activated. These parts of the brain enhance the anticipation of a reward and can lead to a sense of enjoyment, motivation to care for something, and the urge to cuddle or hold an object.
But what about things that aren’t so cute? In fact, some creatures are considered quite unattractive. Our friends at Earth Unplugged have explored this very question in a collaboration. You can find out more by clicking on the screen or the link in the description. Huge thanks to the team at Earth Unplugged for providing us with all this footage. Go watch their video and follow them for even more amazing content, and subscribe to ASAP Science for more weekly science videos!
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This version maintains the original message while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Babies – Young humans or animals that are in the early stages of development. – Scientists study how babies learn to recognize their parents’ voices.
Cute – Attractive in a way that is often associated with youth and innocence. – Psychologists have found that people are naturally drawn to cute features, like big eyes and small noses.
Science – The systematic study of the natural world through observation and experiment. – In science class, we learned about the different states of matter and how they change.
Brain – The organ in the head that controls thought, memory, and emotion. – The brain is responsible for processing all the information we receive from our senses.
Features – Distinctive attributes or aspects of something. – The unique features of each animal help scientists classify them into different species.
Care – The process of providing for the needs of someone or something. – Taking care of plants involves understanding their needs for sunlight and water.
Survival – The ability to continue living or existing. – Animals have developed various traits to aid in their survival in the wild.
Traits – Characteristics or qualities that are inherited or learned. – Genetic traits, like eye color, are passed down from parents to their children.
Reward – A benefit or positive outcome received for a particular action. – In psychology, a reward can reinforce a behavior, making it more likely to occur again.
Psychology – The scientific study of the mind and behavior. – Psychology helps us understand why people behave the way they do in different situations.
