Change of head proportions (especially the relative size of the maxilla and mandible) as a function of age.

Cuteness is a kind of attractiveness commonly associated with youth and appearance, as well as a scientific concept and analytical model in Ethology, first introduced by Konrad Lorenz. It is usually characterized by (though not limited to) some combination of infant-like physical traits, especially small body size with a disproportionately large head, large eyes, a small nose, dimples, and round and softer body features. Infantile personality traits, such as playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity, innocence, affectionate behavior and a need to be nurtured are also generally considered cute. The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. ... The mandible (from Latin mandibŭla, jawbone) or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face. ... Features such as a symmetrical face, full lips, and low waist-hip ratio, are commonly considered physically attractive when part of a female, because they are thought to indicate physical health and high fertility to a potential mate. ... For other uses, see Youth (disambiguation) Youth is defined by Websters New World Dictionary as, The time of life when one is young; especially: a: the period between childhood and maturity b: the early period of existence, growth, or development. ... Variation in the physical appearance of humans is believed by anthropologists to be an important factor in the development of personality and social relations in particular physical attractiveness. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lorenz being followed by his imprinted geese Konrad Zacharias Lorenz (November 7, 1903 in Vienna – February 27, 1989 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, animal psychologist, and ornithologist. ... For other uses, see Dimple (disambiguation). ...

Psychology of cuteness

Knut, a young polar bear at the Berlin Zoo, has been referred to in news media as "cute".^[1]

Konrad Lorenz argued in 1949 that infantile features triggered nurturing responses in adults and that this was an evolutionary adaptation which helped ensure that adults cared for their children, ultimately securing the survival of the species. As evidence, Lorenz noted that humans react more positively to animals that resemble infants—with big eyes, big heads, shortened noses, etc.—than to animals that do not. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Knut during his first public appearance at the Berlin Zoo on 23 March 2007. ... This article is about the animal. ... The Zoologischer Garten Berlin (zoological garden Berlin) is one of the biggest zoos in Germany and the one with the largest number of species of the world. ... This article is about the human developmental stage. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ...

That is, humans prefer animals which exhibit pedomorphosis. Pedomorphosis is the retention of child-like characteristics—such as big heads or large eyes—into adulthood. Thus, pedomorphosis and cuteness may explain the popularity of Giant Pandas and Koalas. The widely perceived cuteness of domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, may be due to the fact that humans selectively breed their pets for infant-like characteristics, including non-aggressive behavior and child-like appearance. In developmental biology, pedomorphosis (also spelled paedomorphosis) or juvenification is a phenotypic and/or genotypic change in which the adults of a species retain traits previously seen only in juveniles. ... Panda Bear redirects here. ... For other uses, see Koala (disambiguation). ... This article is about animals kept for companionship. ...

Some later scientific studies have provided further evidence for Lorenz's theory. For example, it has been shown that human adults react positively to infants who are stereotypically cute. Studies have also shown that responses to cuteness—and to facial attractiveness generally—seem to be similar across and within cultures.^[2] For other uses, see Stereotype (disambiguation). ...

Additionally, the phenomenon is not restricted to humans. The young of many mammal and bird species share a similar set of typical physical proportions, beyond absolute body size, that distinguish them from adults of their own species. "Cute" features were also described in the recent finding of a baby Triceratops skull, suggesting that cuteness is an ancient and useful survival technique.^[3] Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Species (type) Marsh, 1890 Triceratops (IPA: ) was a herbivorous genus of ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago (mya) in what is now North America. ... For other uses of Skull, see Skull (disambiguation). ...

Cultural significance

Cuteness is a major marketing tool in many cultures, such as that of Japan, with phenomena such as Pokémon or Hello Kitty. It is also an important selling point in the English-speaking world, where Elmo, The Family Circus, Furby, Precious Moments, and many other cultural icons and products trade on their cuteness. It can be a factor in live action productions such as movies starring Shirley Temple, the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids trilogy, the Three Men and a Baby duology, and elements of One Good Cop, as well the successful documentary film March of the Penguins, where the noteworthy cuteness of the penguins was cited as a major reason for the film's outstanding appeal.^{[citation needed]} This technique was repeated in the computer-animated film Happy Feet. Next big thing redirects here. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... A phenomenon (plural: phenomena) is an observable event, especially something special (literally something that can be seen from the Greek word phainomenon = observable). ... The official Pokémon logo. ... Hello Kitty ) is the best-known of many fictional characters produced by the Japanese company Sanrio. ... For other uses of this name, see Elmo (disambiguation). ... An early strip featuring (L to R) Daddy (Bill), Dolly, Billy, Mommy (Thel), and Jeffy. ... One of the many second generation variations of Classic (1998) Furby A Furby (plural Furbys, according to Tiger. ... Precious Moments is widely known as a series of collectible porcelain bisque figurines. ... For the cocktail named after this person, see Shirley Temple cocktail. ... Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 comedy film released through Walt Disney Pictures. ... A trilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that are connected and can be seen as a single work, as well as three individual ones. ... Three Men and a Baby is a 1987 comedy film starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. ... Duology also known as dilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that develop a single theme over two works. ... One Good Cop is a 1991 film starring Michael Keaton, Rene Russo, Anthony LaPaglia. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... March of the Penguins (French: La Marche de lempereur; literally The Emperors March) is an Academy Award-winning documentary film by Luc Jacquet, co-produced by Bonne Pioche and the National Geographic Society. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... See also: Computer-generated imagery Computer animation is the art of creating moving images via the use of computers. ... Happy Feet is an Academy Award-winning Australian-produced 2006 computer-animated comedy-drama film, directed and co-written by George Miller. ...

Stephen Jay Gould remarked on this phenomenon in an article for the journal Natural History, in which he pointed out that over time Mickey Mouse had been drawn more and more to resemble an infant—with bigger head, bigger eyes, and so forth. Gould suggested that this change in Mickey's image was intended to increase his popularity by making him appear cuter. Stephen Jay Gould (September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002) was an American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science. ... Mickey Mouse is an Academy Award-winning comic animal cartoon character who has become an icon for The Walt Disney Company. ... For other uses, see Head (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Cuteness in Japanese culture

Promotional sign for Japan Self-Defense Forces auxiliary, with men drawn in a super deformed style. ...

References

Further reading

• Stephen Jay Gould. A Biological Homage to Mickey Mouse, in The Panda's Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History. W.W. Norton & Company, 1980.
• 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).
• Natalie Angier. The Cute Factor. The New York Times, 2006-01-03.
• Jeanne Moos. The Science of Cuteness/Cutie Contest, CNN Headline News, 2006-12-17. video
• Ilya Garger. Hello Kitty: One Nation Under Cute. Psychology Today, Mar/Apr 2007.