What is cute – scientifically? This video by YouTube user Vsauce answers this question wonderfully. For example, did you know that looking at cute pictures activates the same part of the brain as using cocaine or meth?
Cuteness is usually characterized by a small body size with a disproportionately large head, large eyes, small nose, and round and softer body features. Infantile personality traits, such as playfulness, curiosity, innocence, affectionate behavior, and a need to be nurtured are also generally considered cute.
In 1945, Konrad Lorenz argued that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults and that this was an evolutionary adaptation which helped ensure adults cared for their children. Lorenz noted that humans react more positively to animals that resemble infants than to animals that do not.
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