Is there a sciene to Cuteness? Such a a formula?

Question

In other words what makes one thing cute as oppossed to a non cute thing? Are there guildelines?

Consider the teddy bear. Its first incarnation appeared to be very bear like; it had a pointed muzzle, small eyes, and a narrow head. As toy companies began to appear, they also began competing. Competition led to new innovations in teddy bear production. Bears with large eyes, large heads, and flatter snouts began to appear. Further more, bears were no longer produced standing on all fours; they are now all sitting up. Like baby’s. In a business sense, cute=money, as there is a public willing to buy such merchandise. My theory is that capitalism has found a niche in human biology to invest in. That niche is called “baby”. If you look at the bear again, it has evolved to resemble a human baby. It no longer looks like a bear. Babies are cute, so that mothers will raise them. Teddy bears are cute because it recreates the same sensation we get when we see a baby.

The problem with my theory is that people find other things, that are not baby like cute, such as Manatees. This is why I asked.

Troll hair, you are such a "pompi." Open a book sometime won't you. My question is both a biological and capitalist one. Whether you find relevance in it, is your business. But remember, a closed mind is a stupid one.

Answer 1

Yes there are characteristics. But there is no "science" to cuteness. Daniel Harris has written a good book about cuteness in relation to consumerism.

For example, cute animals or toys generally have chubby cheeks, oversized heads, and puffy swollen (useless) paws, as if they could not survive (in their imaginary world) without your help. Thus one aspect of cuteness is dependency on you (or others). Cuteness is vulnerability. This is just one characteristic.

Answer 2

You've answered your question in your additional details. Things that are baby-like (large heads and eyes, especially), or resemble kittens, puppies, and other young of species we're attached to, are considered cute.

I don't know if there is "a science" of this, but scientists have been studying this and related phenomena -- for example, it was recently argued that people who are considered especially good-looking have symmetrical faces.

There are other reasons for considering things cute, as you point out, but I forget your example (wish they'd add the Additionals to the Answer screen). There is most likely not only one factor involved, but a host of them, with the biggest explanatory factor being 'baby-like.'

Some people claim that some things can be "so ugly they're cute" such as some of the (to me) uglier dog breeds. So ugliness itself works on some people, making them react with "Aw, how CUTE."

I think in this, as in so many other things, it's a mistake to assume there's only one criterion that will explain all cases of cuteness.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you study baby animals like kittens and puppies, you'd probably agree that they seem to have cuteness down to a fine science. I'm not sure what the components are other than big eyes that flirt, silly cute postures, clean fluffy or shiny fur, playfulness, and sweet solicitous noises. They are also cute because they focus on you. Babies can smile, but baby animals probably not.

Answer 4

Not that i know of - but i did read somewhere yesterday (star or in touch - one of those gossip mags) that scientists have made a formula for the legs guys prefer - BTW the prefect match was Jennifer Aniston - something to do with the sheen, the color, the shape, the length - i am sure if they postulated that formulat there has to be one for cuteness somewhere! I just hope that wasn't a federally funded study ... lol

Answer 5

I SAW A DOCUMENTARY ONCE ON BEAUTY BEING RELATIVE TO THE FORMULA FOR PI (PI =3.14) BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER. I BELIEVE SOCIETY CAN PROBABLY COME UP WITH A FORMULA FOR CUTENESS. EVERY THING ELSE GOES. BESIDES GOD CREATES. BEAUTY IS WITHIN AND NOTHING IS NON-CUTE, BUT UNIQUE AND IF ALL OF US WERE CUTE, WE'D BE THE SAME. GOD MADE US DIFFERENT FOR A REASON. YOU CAN BE CUTE ON THE OUTSIDE AND HAVE A ROTTEN PERSONALITY AND A UGLY DISPOSITION AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND SOMEONE LIKE THAT I DON'T CARE HOW YOU LOOK UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THEM THEN THEY MIGHT HANG AROUND YOU UNTIL WHATEVER YOU HAVE THAT THEY WANT IS GONE.

Answer 6

yes there but the refer to physical attraction and perceptions of beauty. I saw a great program on the discovery channel, I think it was the biology of sex.........anyway it went into what attracts people to pick a mate.......strong jaw lines for men, body hair, shows they are stronger I suppose, large shoulders etc. For women its full lips, large hips........it goes into detail, you should look it up. Large hips don't mean fat either, it shows that biologically she won't die in childbirth....etc.

Answer 7

there is no real science to cuteness exactly, the only thing biologists believe influence our perception of how attractive someone is, is how balanced their features are,
such as:
both eyes are level...arms same length....ears the same size ..stuff like that

the rest is up to personal taste

Answer 8

Cute things make you talk like a baby and scruch up your nose in a cute way.

Answer 9

It is called intelligence. Once you get it we will be able to answer the question for you.

Answer 10

Cuteness is as cuteness does.