Cute aggression

Social psychologist Oriana Aragón and colleagues defined the phenomenon of cute aggression in their published research paper in 2015.{{Cite journal |last1=Aragón |first1=Oriana R. |last2=Clark |first2=Margaret S. |last3=Dyer |first3=Rebecca L. |last4=Bargh |first4=John A. |date=March 2015 |title=Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion: Displays of Both Care and Aggression in Response to Cute Stimuli |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797614561044 |journal=Psychological Science |language=en |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=259–273 |doi=10.1177/0956797614561044 |pmid=25626441 |issn=0956-7976}} They also referred to these experiences with the alternative term "playful aggression", defining it as follows:{{Cite journal |last1=Stavropoulos |first1=Katherine K. M. |last2=Alba |first2=Laura A. |date=2018-12-04 |title="It's so Cute I Could Crush It!": Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Cute Aggression |journal=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |volume=12 |page=300 |doi=10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00300 |doi-access=free |issn=1662-5153 |pmc=6288201 |pmid=30564109}}

File:Juvenile Ragdoll.jpg

{{bq|text=Playful aggression is in reference to the expressions that people show sometimes when interacting with babies. Sometimes we say things and appear to be more angry than happy, even though we are happy. For example some people grit their teeth, clench their hands, pinch cheeks, or say things like "I want to eat you up!" It would be difficult to ask about every possible behaviour of playful aggression, so we ask generally about things of this kind—calling them playful aggressions.}}

The concept of cute aggression is reflected in various terms across many languages.

The word {{Lang|tl|gigil}} in Tagalog describes an overwhelming feeling of joy in reference to something cute, as well as the wish to squeeze it.{{Cite web |date=21 July 2017 |title=An untranslatable word for pure joy |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170714-an-untranslatable-word-for-pure-joy |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.bbc.com}} The Indonesian word {{Lang|id|gemas}} describes the feeling of wanting to choke something cute.{{Cite web |title=What is the English word for Indonesian word "gemas"? |url=https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/235358/what-is-the-english-word-for-indonesian-word-gemas |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=English Language Learners Stack Exchange |language=en}}{{User-generated inline|date=February 2025|certain=yes}} The words {{Lang|tl|gigil}} and {{Lang|id|gemas}} have alternative meanings of expressing severe frustration and anger towards something.

The word {{Lang|zlm|geram}} in Malay is also polysemous, with meanings associated with expressing a love-hate anger toward something cute, evoking urges to squeeze it affectionately, and describes a feeling of dissatisfaction too.{{Cite web |title=What does "geram" mean? |url=https://askai.glarity.app/search/What-does-%22geram%22-mean |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Glarity |language=en}}

The expression {{Lang|th-Latn|man khiaao}} ({{Lang|th|มัน-เขี้ยว}}) in Thai means that an individual wants to "eat them up" as they are "so cute", often in relation to people or animals. The verb {{Lang|th-Latn|man}} directly translates "to enjoy", and {{Lang|th-Latn|khiaao}} translates to "fang" or "canine".{{Cite web |title=thai-language.com - มันเขี้ยว |url=http://www.thai-language.com/id/222122 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.thai-language.com}}

The Chamorro language contains the term {{Lang|ch|ma'goddai}}. This describes the strong feelings one gets when admiring someone's pleasantly chubby appearance, causing an urge to pinch, squeeze or smother the person in kisses.{{Cite web |date=2009-11-28 |title=Ma'goddai: Strong Urge - Guampedia |url=https://www.guampedia.com/magoddai-strong-urge/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.guampedia.com |language=en-US}}

File:MRI of orbitofrontal cortex.jpg located in the brain]]

Research using EEG scans discovered that emotion centers and reward centers in the brain lit up when participants viewed images of baby animals, and that emotions were stronger for animals perceived as more cute.{{Cite journal |last1=Stavropoulos |first1=Katherine K. M. |last2=Alba |first2=Laura A. |date=2018-12-04 |title="It's so Cute I Could Crush It!": Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Cute Aggression |journal=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |volume=12 |page=300 |doi=10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00300 |issn=1662-5153 |pmc=6288201 |pmid=30564109 |doi-access=free}} Specifically, activity in the orbitofrontal cortex (an area associated with emotion and pleasure) increases,{{Cite web |title=How cute things hijack our brains and drive behaviour {{!}} University of Oxford |url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/how-cute-things-hijack-our-brains-and-drive-behaviour |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.ox.ac.uk}} as quickly as one-seventh of a second after seeing a baby face.{{Cite web |title=How cute things hijack our brains and drive behaviour {{!}} University of Oxford |url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/how-cute-things-hijack-our-brains-and-drive-behaviour |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.ox.ac.uk}}

File:OXT and AVP synthesized in the neurons located in the PVN and SON.jpg

The interaction between the neurohormones oxytocin and vasopressin offer proximate explanations for why cute stimuli can elicit contradictory responses of affection and aggression.{{Cite web |last=CosmicShambles |date=2023-03-08 |title=Why Do We Experience 'Cute Aggression'? - Dean Burnett |url=https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/deanburnett/cute-aggression/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The Cosmic Shambles Network |language=en-GB}} They are distinct molecules and are evolved components of an adaptive system humans have for long term attachment.{{Cite journal |last=Carter |first=C. Sue |date=2017-12-22 |title=The Oxytocin–Vasopressin Pathway in the Context of Love and Fear |journal=Frontiers in Endocrinology |volume=8 |page=356 |doi=10.3389/fendo.2017.00356 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-2392 |pmc=5743651 |pmid=29312146}}

The hormone oxytocin (often called the "cuddle hormone" or the "love hormone") is produced in the hypothalamus in the brain and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland upon seeing something cute and neuropeptide surges contribute to feelings of affection.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-20 |title=Oxytocin: The love hormone |url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/oxytocin-the-love-hormone |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Harvard Health |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=CosmicShambles |date=2023-03-08 |title=Why Do We Experience 'Cute Aggression'? - Dean Burnett |url=https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/deanburnett/cute-aggression/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The Cosmic Shambles Network |language=en-GB}} Vasopressin is also produced in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary in the brain. When released it compels the individual to protect and defend what is considered vulnerable. Many mammals, such as grizzly bears, will display aggressive behaviour to protect their young.{{Cite web |title=What If I Get Between a Black Bear Mother and Her Cubs? |url=https://bear.org/bear-facts/what-if-i-get-between-a-black-bear-mother-and-her-cubs/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=North American Bear Center |language=en}}

Evolution serves as the ultimate explanation for understanding cute aggression, as it suggests that this seemingly paradoxical response may have provided adaptive advantages in human ancestors, aiding in the care and protection of vulnerable offspring.{{Cite journal |last1=Stavropoulos |first1=Katherine K. M. |last2=Alba |first2=Laura A. |date=2018-12-04 |title="It's so Cute I Could Crush It!": Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Cute Aggression |journal=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |volume=12 |page=300 |doi=10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00300 |doi-access=free |issn=1662-5153 |pmc=6288201 |pmid=30564109}}

As a species, humans rely heavily upon parental care in order for their offspring to survive. Humans have low reproductive rates relative to other species, amplifying the importance of parental care for the survival of their few offspring. Infantile traits like big eyes, round faces, and small size evoke perceptions of cuteness, and trigger innate caregiving instincts in humans.{{Cite journal |last1=Glocker |first1=Melanie L. |last2=Langleben |first2=Daniel D. |last3=Ruparel |first3=Kosha |last4=Loughead |first4=James W. |last5=Gur |first5=Ruben C. |last6=Sachser |first6=Norbert |date=March 2009 |title=Baby Schema in Infant Faces Induces Cuteness Perception and Motivation for Caretaking in Adults |journal=Ethology |language=en |volume=115 |issue=3 |pages=257–263 |bibcode=2009Ethol.115..257G |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.2008.01603.x |issn=0179-1613 |pmc=3260535 |pmid=22267884}} These cute behaviors highlight the child's vulnerability which adults are receptive to. Psychoanalyst John Bowlby (1907–1990) in his Evolutionary Theory of Attachment suggests that babies are pre-programmed to elicit attachments from caregivers to increase their chances of survival.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=John Bowlby's Attachment Theory |url=https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |language=en-US}} He explained how babies use social releasers including smiling, crying, and making eye-contact to attract the attention of caregivers.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-24 |title=John Bowlby's Attachment Theory |url=https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |language=en-US}} The gradient is most intense with objects that we perceive to be more cute in comparison to objects that are not as cute, but they still generate a response. The same adoration that humans are compelled to feel for their young may carry over to other animals with similar physiological traits which require care such as puppies and kittens.{{Cite web |title=Cute aggression: why you might want to squash every adorable thing you see |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/02/cute-aggression-why-you-might-want-to-squash-every-adorable-thing-you-see |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=UNSW Sites |language=en}}

Biological response of oxytocin attaches the adults to infants and vasopressin is somehow associated with aggressive feelings. Cute aggression, such as biting, squeezing, and tickling, is related to the intersection of emotional responses and reward centers. Some have postulated that this impulse serves an evolutionary purpose; if a human were to continually stare at their children, in awe over how adorable they are while being negligent to the environment and immediate surroundings, the children could be attacked by a wild animal in the vicinity when the parent is not aware and suffer harm.{{Cite web |last=Mind Diagnostics |date=October 27, 2020 |others=Reviewed by Lauren Guilbeault |title=The Mystery of Cute Aggression Explained |url=https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/aggression/the-mystery-of-cute-aggression-explained |website=mind-diagnostics.org}} Others have hypothesized that the feelings of aggression may be a coping mechanism for the brain to regulate overwhelming positive emotions, similar to how people may cry when happy or laugh when uncomfortable.

A study conducted in 2015 by Aragon and colleagues sought to explain whether cute aggression as a dimorphous expression serves as a regulatory mechanism during overwhelming emotional experiences. They outline how dimorphous expressions of emotion feature the distinct pattern of one stimulus event, one appraisal, one emotional experience but two expressive behaviours. Their 143 participant survey results found more infantile babies received higher positive appraisals (M = 66.88) than less-infantile babies (M = 56.68). Participants reported feeling more overwhelmed with positive feelings towards the more-infantile babies (M = 42.74) while expressing more aggressive urges towards them compared to less infantile babies (M = 33.35).{{Cite journal |last1=Aragón |first1=Oriana R. |last2=Clark |first2=Margaret S. |last3=Dyer |first3=Rebecca L. |last4=Bargh |first4=John A. |date=March 2015 |title=Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion: Displays of Both Care and Aggression in Response to Cute Stimuli |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797614561044 |journal=Psychological Science |language=en |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=259–273 |doi=10.1177/0956797614561044 |pmid=25626441 |issn=0956-7976}}

A more recent study conducted by Stravropoulos and colleagues in 2018, used electroencephalography (EEG) scans to investigate brain activity during cute aggression experiences. Fifty-four participants rated their reactions to baby animal images comparing these to adult animals. Higher ratings were given after viewing baby animals and the EEG analysis found in the N200 component, emotional responses peaked around 200 ms after stimulus onset. Participants who reported higher levels of cute aggression showed a stronger reward processing response in the mesolimbic system. The involvement of emotional and reward processing in the brain enables insight to the underlying mechanisms of cute aggression.{{Cite journal |last1=Stavropoulos |first1=Katherine K. M. |last2=Alba |first2=Laura A. |date=2018-12-04 |title="It's so Cute I Could Crush It!": Understanding Neural Mechanisms of Cute Aggression |journal=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |volume=12 |page=300 |doi=10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00300 |doi-access=free |issn=1662-5153 |pmc=6288201 |pmid=30564109}}

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Category:Aggression

Category:Emotions

Category:Play (activity)

Category:Concepts in aesthetics