Don’t you want to pinch it and squeeze it and bite its little face off!?
You’re not alone.
Rebecca Dyer and Oriana Aragon, graduate students in psychology, brought subjects into a lab, handed them a fresh sheet of bubble wrap, and exposed them to cute, funny, and neutral pictures of animals. Those who saw the cute ones popped significantly more bubbles than the others.
Cute things make us aggressive! It’s why we say things like: “I just wanna eat you up!” and why we have to restrain ourselves from giving our pets an uncomfortably tight hug. An aggressive response to cuteness, it appears, it “completely normal.”
The authors suggest that humans non-consciously balance extreme emotions with one from the other side of the spectrum to try to maintain some control and balance. This, Aragon explains at her website, may be why we cry when we’re really happy and laugh at funerals.
In the meantime, if this makes you want to inflict some serious squishing, know that you’re in good company.
Photo from 820453820 flickr creative commons.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 19
Larry Charles Wilson — July 28, 2014
There must be something wrong with me. I've never laughed at a funeral. I avoid weddings because I don't like spending money on an unsure thing.
TonyLGrossmen — July 28, 2014
It’s why we say things like: “I just wanna eat you up!” and why we have to restrain ourselves from giving our pets an uncomfortably tight hug. http://moourl.com/wqd5o
ape — July 28, 2014
No, that first dog makes me aggressive because it's so unnatural looking.
cmu — July 28, 2014
In McEnroe's famous words, "You CANNOT be serious!"
Wanting to hug a cute animal is hardly aggressive. Even a "hard" hug.
Saying the words "I want to eat you up!" would only be taken by a fool (or a non-English speaker,) with any degree of literalness.
I await with bated breath the next study by these two desperately grasping researchers.
Bill R — July 28, 2014
A conceptually idiotic study with uninterpretable findings.
Let's move on...
Ely — July 28, 2014
That would only apply to Anglo-centric cultures, I think.
The most we have is "pinch cheeks". Maybe that's why some translations get kind of awkward,.
It's usually more like "squeeze you hard" or "kiss you up all over", or "touching" or something.
L10 — July 28, 2014
I didn't feel remotely aggressive looking at those pictures, just sad and a little bit disgusted by the text. If it matters, I'm middle-aged, female, and a mom.
Biggus Disqus — July 28, 2014
Sometimes, cuteness goes too far and turns into surreal horror.
Sometimes, is now.
Behold, the "World's Fluffiest Bunny." (http://www.incrediblethings.com/pets/worlds-fluffiest-bunny/)
Why men want to hurt cute women | Julian O'Dea — July 28, 2014
[…] “Cuteness inspired aggression is widespread“. […]
Cee Bee — July 28, 2014
maybe *aggressive* is not the right word.
Daniel Ekström — July 29, 2014
So cute, I just want to stab them repeatedly with a freshly sharpened Dixon Ticonderoga.
Elena — July 29, 2014
It's alright guys. I've got it under control.
naturalfoodnew — July 29, 2014
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Dana — July 29, 2014
well, I always wondered why we say something or someone is so cute we want to eat it? I feel better knowing this is normal....
Taryne — August 3, 2014
This Key and Peele skit treats this exact subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6iC0Vi1yEg
Cuteness Inspired Aggression is Widespread - Treat Them Better — December 31, 2014
[…] Cuteness Inspired Aggression is Widespread […]
ivy michael — June 20, 2024
Experiencing cuteness-induced aggression is surprisingly common for me. When I see something incredibly cute, like pitbull pajamas a puppy or baby, I feel an overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch gently. This reaction, though strange, helps me manage the intense emotions sparked by cuteness, balancing the overflow of positive feelings.