Photo by Braydon Anderson
Have you ever wondered, “Why do we love cute things?” If so, that makes two of us because I’ve also been curious about that topic.
Hi guys! My name is Chris Cochrane author of “The Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter,” and I’m here once again to share some fun reads with everyone. The book that I wrote focuses on teaching kids the beauty of accepting the physical differences that each and every one of us has.
But in order for us to achieve that, we must first understand why we find ourselves attracted to cute things. With that in mind, I’d like to invite all of you, my dear readers, to join me as I discuss how cuteness literally hijacks our brains!
Cuteness: The Brain Hijacker and How It Does It
What do you think is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? It probably has to do with a baby, a puppy, or some other cute animal. And chances are, it’s ingrained in your memory for eternity. However, what is this strong attracting force exactly, and how does it manifest itself in the brain?
Cuteness works by engaging all of our senses, grabbing our attention, and causing our minds to race. One of the most powerful variables influencing human behavior may be attractiveness, which could lead to increased compassion. In the book that as a children’s book author, I use the Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter creature as a means to show kids what kindness is like.
Research has indicated that we generally feel fondness for animals with infantile traits. Therefore, it’s possible that this nurturing drive is also responsible for our broader impression of attractiveness. For example, dogs have been bred to resemble newborns in appearance, with large eyes, protruding skulls, and recessed chins.
They’re also very soft whenever you touch them. Whether we like it or not, we could also have a soft spot for grownups and even inanimate items that resemble babies, including teddies, dolls, and small goods.
Psychology of Cuteness: Its Effect on the Brain
Our goal is to understand and answer the question: “Why do we love cute things?” We go to the very roots of ourselves that interpret things—our brain.
In my book, “The Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter,” by Chris Cochrane author, I utilize our current understanding of cuteness to make the story more engaging for both kids and adults. I also use it to help parents in teaching kids to accept diversity and be proud of everyone.
Cuteness activates brain networks linked to emotion and pleasure, eliciting feelings of empathy and compassion. This may support well-being and complex social interactions.
Cute things cause rapid brain activity in areas of our grey matter associated with emotion and pleasure, like the orbitofrontal cortex. Additionally, it draws our attention in a biased manner because newborns have an easier time being present and inside our minds.
Knowing how cute things hijack our brains and drive our behaviors in the best way. Additionally, cuteness sets off a considerably slower reaction. Large brain networks process information more slowly and continuously after the initial burst of quick attention.
The Evolutionary Reason for Cuteness: Can It Turn Us Into Better Folks?
One excellent analogy of how cuteness can cause long-term, slow brain activity in networks related to emotion, pleasure, and social relationships is parenting. Nevertheless, cuteness can help spark compassion and empathy beyond parenthood. This is demonstrated by our interest in other babies and infant animals in addition to our own.
By extending the bounds of what we deem morally defensible, cuteness may also increase moral concern when this pathway of brain activity is activated. An adorable baby animal or infant picture, for instance, can encourage us to give more money to organizations.
“Why Do We Love Cute Things?” Because We Can’t Help but Love Them
Donning a mask so that you can pretend that cuteness has no effect on you is a waste of time. There is a certain appeal to cuteness that pulls us towards it like a magnet, which a Science Direct study confirms. It’s a fact of life that we must live with, whether we like it or not.
The best thing that we can do is to accept this fact of life and use it in a positive manner. And now that you have a better understanding of why cute things have such a hold of us, it’s time to use cuteness to teach your kids to be better.
Click here to buy a copy of “The Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter,” by Chris Cochrane author (that’s me!), and read them to your children at bedtime, storytime, and all other times!
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