What Inclines Humans to feel that Animals are Cute?

Question

How is this advantageous to Humans in Evelutionalry stand point?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuteness

Cuteness is usually characterized by (though not limited to) some combination of infant-like physical traits, especially small body size with a disproportionately big head, large eyes, a small nose, dimples, round and softer body features. Infantile personality traits, such as playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiousity, innocence, affectionate behavior and a need to be nurtured are also generally considered cute.

Answer 2

I think it is because some animals are more humanistic than humans. This is advantageous as it allows a human to "open up" and evolve to and experience unconditional love.

Answer 3

What inclines some human to think other humans are cute?

Answer 4

I'm guessing the following:

First, it has been shown that in spite of trends in what is seen as attractive, "beauty" is generally something that people across cultures do identify similarly. It has to do with the symmetry of the features. Animals tend to have fewer differences in symmetry than humans do, as far as I know, which would mean that if animals tend to have just the right symmetry humans would find them appealing (or beautiful).

Humans are hard-wired by Nature to have a different set of characteristics seen as being very attractive in men than in women. Across Nature, though, the things that are considered attractive in males tend to be the same; as are the things considered attractive in females. It is said that what is considered most attractive in women are characteristics that make them appear youthful or even child-like, which tells you that males find youthful appealing. We know, too, that a maternal instinct is brought out in women when faces with a creature that has traits similiar to a human child. In other words, creatures can bring out nurturing and attraction instincts in humans. They have the symmetry of features to be seen as naturally beautiful, and they bring out a nurturing instinct.

Its my guess that because most creatures (at least warm-blooded ones) share the same "rules" for attraction the fact that humans find animals cute may not necessarily be part of any "evolutionary plan" but may, instead, be the result of all creatures' tending to operate on similiar hard-wiring when it comes to nurturing instinct or a sense of beauty or attractiveness.

Maybe I'm missing something (it is awfully late), but I wonder, too, whether the only real evolutionary purpose to this "system of appeal" may be to discourage larger animals (humans) from harming creatures of another species. Maybe it even acts as a "balance" in view of the fact that predatory instincts in animals (and sometimes humans) do constitute a threat so often.

If you reduce the instincts of creatures with brains that are less developed than humans' are into "generally male" and "generally female" you realize that "male" tends to be associated with the predatory instinct while "female" tends to be associated with the nurturing instinct. Since human brains have evolved to a point where both male and female parts of the brain are well developed it would make sense that, considering the fact that most well developed human brains are developed past the more primitive instincts, what would be left of any appeal animals have for humans would be confined to the mere appreciation of beauty.

Humans, in their higher brain development, usually share an appreciation of universal beauty, such as that seen in sunsets, the ocean, sunrises, etc., and I suspect at this point in the evolution of humans the fact that they appreciate the beauty of animals by thinking they are cute is the "more evolved" form of a more basic instinct that most animals share.

Answer 5

Probably their resembling some human characteristics is part of the appeal, as for part two of your question regarding an evolutionary standpoint, I have no idea, wish darwin was around to clarify.

Answer 6

Babies!

Little animals are like babies. Lions have been known to save deer from mud quagmires (I've seen it on TV)

I'm guessing that the lion is acting to, sort of leave something in the fridge.

Humans see baby animals as cute like their own babies. In evolutionary terms domestication comes from caring of young animals.

Answer 7

Not all animals, or animals of all ages. BABY ANIMALS are ALWAYS "cute". Big wide eyes, helpless...just like a human baby. Obviously there is a connection. We can't see it, we can't smell it or taste it...but it's there nonetheless.

Answer 8

they are different from the norm and great company making them cute.

Answer 9

some animals with fat

looks to be cute