- Researchers appear to have found a neural basis for "cute aggression."
- Cute aggression is what happens when you say something like, 'It's so cute I want to crush it!'
- But it's also a complex response that likely serves to regulate strong emotions and allow caretaking of the young to occur.
<p><br></p>
<p>If you've ever seen someone approach a puppy or small child, lean in and say, "Oh, I just want to squeeze <em>that</em>" while using a tone that suggests that said 'squeeze' might not be as harmless an action as it may sound; if you've ever logged onto <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogspotting/" target="_blank">Dogspotting</a> on Facebook and shouted out loud at the first doggo to grace your screen, then you'll have witnessed what psychologists at Yale once dubbed "cute aggression." </p><p>"Cute aggression" is a superficial display of aggression typically uttered in response to young children and young, attractive animals. It's also an example of what would be called 'dimorphous expression,' which is a name given to what happens when someone expresses <em>one</em> emotion while feeling <em>another</em>, i.e., "cute" + "aggression." "Cute aggression" is a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/exqnxk/why-do-i-want-to-crush-cute-animals" target="_blank">documented</a> psychological phenomenon, but <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00300/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Behavioral_Neuroscience&id=414775#h6" target="_blank">a recent study</a> from <a href="https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2018/12/04/so-cute-you-could-crush-it" target="_blank">UC Riverside</a> suggests — and this is what's new — that there may be a neurological basis for the phenomenon as well.<br></p><p>The research was led by Katherine Stavropoulos, an assistant professor of special education at the UC Riverside. For the study she ran, she recruited 54 participants between 18 and 40, outfitted them with electrodes, and then exposed them to pictures of cute babies, non-cute babies, cute baby animals, and less cute baby animals. Participants then had to rate how much they agreed with certain statements — i.e., "It's so cute I want to squeeze it!" — on a scale.</p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODk4MzU5Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjYyMTE1NX0.2T_-H6jjG_7CsbJRNQ2uUfCGW1BKSa1NSc7s287R_6s/img.jpg?width=980" id="7353f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3b155c89d2168ea866b86ae38dde9a0d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Percentage of participants responding "yes" to things people say and do, and correlations with ratings of cute aggression. / Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
<p>The results showed that participants expressed higher levels of "cute aggression" when confronted with pictures of cute animals. There was no clear pattern observed when the same participants were exposed to photos of cute and non-cute babies, even though studies in the past have found a litany of connections between cute babies and something else, i.e., cute babies and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3260535/" target="_blank">the activation of baby schema</a> ('baby schema' being the name given to the cute features of a baby that activate care-taking feelings in someone else), cute babies and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1754073911402396" target="_blank">the social engagement it may spur in others</a>, and more.<br></p><p>But, neurologically, Stavropoulous noted, "there was an especially strong correlation between ratings of cute aggression experienced toward cute animals and the reward response in the brain toward cute animals." What's more, it appears that the brain plays a role in bringing us towards a state of balance, as Stavropoulous went on to note that:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Our study seems to underscore the idea that cute aggression is the brain's way of 'bringing us back down' by mediating our feelings of being overwhelmed." </p><p>There was also a strong correlation between feelings of 'cute aggression' and the feelings associated with care-taking. </p><p>In short, the study seems to offer evidence to affirm something resembling the following: you see a cute animal. You see a cute baby. Your brain rewards you so much that you feel overwhelmed. You express the opposite of that emotion to bring yourself back into balance. This leaves you in a more effective place to take care of a small animal or child.<br></p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2530fea50bd81861da804bbe36c7e920"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNot4iC7K8s?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>But one question remains: how can you know that you're sufficiently calm, cool, and in control enough to act as the excellent caretaker you know you are? There's only one way to be sure — to be absolutely certain — and that's to click on the video above. After all, you can never be too careful.</p>
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Why Do Japanese People Love Cuteness? Learn the Science of "Kawaii"
In Japan, kawaii, the love of cuteness, is both culture and science, and it's taking over the world.
30 May, 2016
You might think that everyone loves cute things. But not the way Japanese people do. In Japan, cuteness is a well-established and very prevalent part of the culture. And, of course, there is a scientific explanation for this. Because science will tackle any question. No matter how cute.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAwNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODEwNDAwN30.2dBd_aIZfKp5iO62PCE2s4BR6uqw7dUQlrjdU7KOmYI/img.jpg?width=980" id="797dd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="45616db9badfabee61a1bb5810e27c72" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>The reason these girls are wearing such outfits boils down to the word “<strong>kawaii</strong>". Basically, that means “cute" or “lovable" and describes the cultural aspect that has pervaded Japanese pop culture, entertainment, communication, clothing, toys - essentially, everything. </p> <blockquote>The word "kawaii" is derived from a phrase that means " a radiant face" which refers to the blushing of an embarrassed person. Over time, the meaning mutated to the modern "cute" while the way it's written in the Japanese alphabet literally means "able to be loved" - a great clue for amateur psychologists.<br></blockquote> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzA4MjE2N30.fTiOXCslQzXOSt_E8fpXDElgLBw33zN4piejLjXYFZ0/img.jpg?width=980" id="33802" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="90d246abdafe9d5865d0a89ed0eb2284" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Hello Kitty (L), a one-day manager of the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district, greets to clerks during a morning meeting before the opening on November 1, 2014.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images</small></p> <p>Historically, the rise of cuteness goes back to the 1970s, with an emergence of a new style of cute writing practiced by teenage girls who began to use mechanical pencils. These produced much finer lines than traditional Japanese writing and a popular new style emerged, where girls wrote big, round characters accompanied by cute little pictures (think - <strong>emojis</strong>). This style caught on, but was hard to read and as such was banned in schools.</p> <p>Eventually, however, it made it into magazines and comics and coincided with the rise of other cute cultural aspects like <strong>Hello Kitty</strong>, the uber-cute fictional character (bobtail cat with a red bow) that became a merchandising juggernaut. </p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAwOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTQzNDE1M30.V-EySwkHjbQdol5U_Bsb44qP03mHIKnwcfYE2MN8cac/img.jpg?width=980" id="f1970" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d403f4d614da1790a4afeea68912e5c2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>Other cute dolls followed, quickly adopted by Japanese teen girls, then spreading to other demographic segments. Anyone who's ever played <strong>Nintendo</strong> video games has experienced the amazing variety of cute characters living in their worlds.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTY2MzU3MH0.ZhgR3MY-enjT0eLaJ47BN95K555wo-bPEaIpmtlPT6w/img.jpg?width=980" id="059bc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="efaff60d80557d4a7e24f924de48a43b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>In today's Japanese culture, Kawaii is expressed in many ways. Women and men partake of the culture of cuteness. Men shave their legs to mimic a pubescent look, while singers and actors often have longer hair. Studies found that Japanese women prefer the "cute look" of a “childish round face" with large eyes that signify innocence. In fact, some women attempt to change the size of their eyes by wearing large contact lenses, large eyelashes, strong eye makeup and surgically modify their eyelids.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjM5ODE1N30.ffniwuJaCYgcs1EQbj7jbwfAM1PSYYgwTg3kjeS0A70/img.jpg?width=980" id="07570" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8965d80c9863c7e627431ad95de743aa" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTQ0OTEyMn0.AG4Qb4sLOdCcEaCQ9WmL5__J6RX_Wt2EGVZNNFqbvjY/img.jpg?width=980" id="b9c04" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f4146fec8bac76c778a51b785216e3ac" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Japan's girl pop group AKB48 members (L-R) Yuki Kashiwagi, Mayu Watanabe, Yui Yokoyama and Rena Kato pose for photographs. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images</small></p> <p>Japanese pop culture features many kawaii idols, while “<strong>Lolita fashion</strong>" is such a popular trend that even Westerners have come to expect it of Japanese girls. It's a mixture of Victorian and Rococo fashions, combined with gothic elements to achieve a porcelain doll appearance of cuteness and innocence, with an underlying forbidden sexuality. If you love lace, ribbons, ruffles, aprons, parasols, large heels, and petticoats, you might want to give it a try.<br></p> <p>Here is a video about a kawaii-obsessed fashion subculture that has emerged in a Tokyo neighborhood:</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="02e89d1d302bef74f7079779ba35d95d"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WblNctc3ys0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p> <p>Kawaii is also expressed in Japanese technology, with particular growth of a variety of sweet <strong>robots</strong> that promise to help in every aspect of life.</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzMxODcwMX0.NhOcz6xcPEhgjYh3uzloRo4Jaix9SqTMQyVW078F-9s/img.jpg?width=980" id="e73f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5e790a44c15380fc870db88b3f6bf792" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzMxMTE3MH0.fn2Sr2zQWCwOg1sEM9WX4ejToHcPqEJWPc_7QSXRGW0/img.jpg?width=980" id="cd92b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="80e66e22f7381162064aab8af53bd6d5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Yes, this is a Hello Kitty hi-tech toilet seat.</small></p> <p>While you may dismiss cuteness as a regional peculiarity, there is science to back up the unexpected usefulness of life in kawaii. <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046362" target="_blank">A study by researchers from the University of Hiroshima </a>did several experiments on students and found that their performance on a variety of tasks like fine motor dexterity and non-visual searches <strong>improved after viewing cute images of puppies and kittens</strong>. The scientists concluded that this is due to the increase in narrowing attentional focus that resulted from viewing the cute images. They advocated the use of cute images and objects in work spaces to improve productivity. <a href="http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/go-ahead-look-at-these-cute-cats-to-boost-your-productivity-says-science" target="_blank">Here are some such images to tide you over.</a><br></p> <p>And here are more Kawaii pics from Japan to soothe your soul:</p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzgwMjQxOH0.W2IyyaCpCvZ1jwS5HrH5qBVXsp45bKSUzJiPdvXzQI8/img.jpg?width=980" id="e05bf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="480ffc16b7cb6f9545e6e84e23c0dd2b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MzgwNTc4OX0.K9BE2W8yc6ju9PQJr1pnvJkwhrSkpbKJffn_vvLKfvo/img.jpg?width=980" id="f5640" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b57a8c73d203c48189c4c04cb18ae2a6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDkwNjAyOH0.mRVTcDwfEs9k7zUB7tHXV-57jOlYtjQW7Gvm02XbASU/img.jpg?width=980" id="a944b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa36df2810f3d80346141ff41ccc5f7c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTQxMTY1MX0.EQtX3z21l5XhkxOpcU3NGfjEqwOjqabSmJdp-q0pMow/img.jpg?width=980" id="1908d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f6837d7183c35e77e949a7909b2c3f71" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Waitresses (L-R) Minami, Hitomi and Kiki, display their new uniforms at the maid cafe '@home cafe' in Tokyo's Akihabra. Japanese designer Keita Maruyama designed the new uniforms for the maid cafe, which is a popular icon of Japanese subculture. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/GettyImages</small></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTAwODAyOH0.kmkZYHxWq_pyuLkzLY1T_hoYJfcO5hm34cZelkQqivo/img.jpg?width=980" id="bf2d2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="25e1a43c493fb23094046844a5b8ac1f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>Yes, it's cute golden poop.</em></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDYwMDU2M30.hJjP2naFaidNjgQ67bwZ0hGttZdGNmdQjfYuPGcXyRw/img.jpg?width=980" id="51f06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e13699474ad94715e1c46f1305f263a6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjIwMzEzOX0.Ql2Qh53TjLQrXgyBbLADO7MLUyGWSlnT09hwraqSYuU/img.jpg?width=980" id="7e6b9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ffc95ff8195de07b025a23b4d1069b6c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzY1MDE1Nn0.8ePvrvfsdyHoDUdg40ACcJhmjv3EDVAL1PzbHfu7NYo/img.jpg?width=980" id="7964e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2fadd28234b29a098162b1dc95c272f7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NjQ4Nzk0OH0.AvSB5Ax_xlJq8pWyHdPNJGjlcqwxpwPQk16kYZXgXNM/img.jpg?width=980" id="0d0a7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5c6e3af7b9cbe166fec59300f45c436e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDczODk2M30.cIys_zgWic-C8Nt5bT8a6AxsQ_VDpu6pO9HDrSCh5TY/img.jpg?width=980" id="a2207" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b7d651302d2472968740a77f9495f982" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTM5MTU4Nn0.sPM6jUTbHMdnnTbe_ZVrZ0Q6sLW7GMFZIMHeqdAn5Rk/img.jpg?width=980" id="e9ad1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="efc15190dbb95d1dacbe7d266fbe3c4e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDM4Nzk4MX0.4KVc5gqqDlFlnr1-DYuTfM5obK9xHAGjt1MdlaaH75M/img.jpg?width=980" id="d7ed5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4db5bbbd07af3687704b2685c8ead062" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNzAzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTM4NzgwMX0.3RdsLJ9Uzn4vzWc8TgdENJTNrbcocUezU_i1maHE2L0/img.jpg?width=980" id="d7de2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1082bfe819f92503b0bcd3fb29290199" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p>
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Science: Look At These Cute Puppies and Kittens to Boost Your Productivity
Looking at cute cat photos has potential work benefits according to a study by Hiroshima University researchers.
15 April, 2016
According to some studies, 15% of all Internet traffic is cat-related. Why do we love them so? One theory is that they remind us of babies, and we are instinctually responding to cat features such as big eyes in little heads. Dopamine rushes to the brain when we see something cute. We crave cuteness like sugar and sex.
<p>In fact, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/06/why-are-babies-and-puppies-so-cute-oxford-researchers-have-the-a/" target="_blank">a new study from Oxford University</a>, one of the first of its kind, just confirmed that we like to look at babies and cute animals because they evolved to attract our care, with their big eyes, chubby cheeks and giggling.</p> <blockquote><p><span>"This might be a fundamental response present in everyone, regardless of parental status or gender," said Oxford Professor of Psychiatry Morton Kringelbach.</span></p></blockquote> <p>But can there be an actual benefit to looking at cute kitten photos? <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046362" target="_blank">A study by Hiroshima University in Japan </a>found that viewing photos of cute animals made their study’s subjects more concentrated and productive. One experiment involved having students play a game similar to <em>Operation</em> that required fine motor dexterity tasks. After looking at images of puppies and kittens, their performance in the game improved by 43.9%. <span>“This finding suggests that viewing cute images makes participants behave more deliberately and perform tasks with greater time and care,” wrote Hiroshi Nittono, who led the research.</span></p> <p>In another experiment, students performed visual searches by identifying a series of letters of different sizes that flashed on their screens. After looking at cute images, they improved their performance by 15.7%. Such results suggested that cute images made people shift their attention to better focus on details. One possible explanation for this is perhaps that looking at kitten photos causes a response similar to that of a caregiver for babies, when an instinctual switch is made into a mode of careful attention. </p> <p><span>Researchers concluded that “</span>participants performed tasks requiring focused attention more carefully after viewing cute images” as a result of narrowed attentional focus caused by positive emotions triggered by cuteness. <strong>The takeaway for the scientists was that this knowledge can be applied by showing cute objects to elicit emotion in situations requiring careful behavior, like driving, programming or any office work.</strong></p> <p>Armed with this unexpected reassurance for your online cat-viewing predilection, you might wonder what are the cutest cats in the world. While certainly subjective, there is some consensus on <a href="http://www.catbreedslist.com/cutest-cat-breeds/#.VxEyf8dfz8s" target="_blank"><span>breeding lists</span></a> that Persians, Shorthairs and Ragdolls top the cutest breeds. Other cute cats include Birmans, Balinese, Himalayans, and Scottish Folds. </p> <p>You can now use these photos to help you better concentrate at work:</p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDAxMDM2Nn0.EyOKgYHewgot7I9vxII-_Jp1fCCowZWNDAotr8wBOaI/img.jpg?width=980" id="abd1e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="daa6a869c24c1300d661dccf756717de" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p><em>Grumpy Cat attends the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images.</em></p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjY4MTMyMn0.FeedWctSpEQqPSxmO8q45Rt2rAdMvuqN3KcvDaY8wkM/img.jpg?width=980" id="90862" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f006c4119fbf3739e68032c3a74fe381" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p><em>Three Blue Persian kittens at the home of Mrs L Speers, 98 Lichfield Grove, Finchley, north London. 1931. Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images.</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTgwNTcwMX0.uyN1uaAWV2YlfvKKE6V5Jwh6oRARuwLMnrmdwIgCr04/img.jpg?width=980" id="c79c0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="17358e6c650ee7dda8f172d551f08e72" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>A British Shorthair cat looks on during a cat exhibition in Kyrgyzstan. (Credit: VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NjM4NzQ4Mn0.sfh3MpLCltdQuuxh8osDt7t8F2cqrhoRpUdxwbErphE/img.jpg?width=980" id="72bca" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7b51d9b7eaf1692129805a865415f524" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>An American Curl Cat in New York City. (Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDA1ODM4OX0.CiFJc6JLvp-6AJ7vnCbfldfitWawkc5KxGZKkebNH2M/img.jpg?width=980" id="c6899" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ac04a446df07712cac08c73888244154" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p><em>A seven week old Daschund cross puppy.</em></p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzAxNDAyNn0.AZi8sTssqowa1pAPjGY2KyhbZn_0v5LDSBa_GFM8PRU/img.jpg?width=980" id="437cc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b375505fa00b13eeaf26a90ceae64cf2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p>E<em>leven-week old Border Collie puppy rests after play in Slovakia.</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQzOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTUyMTY1OX0.-5641yZB1Hu3fr8VZO5b_15xYa7bQ-D_mddVIefxNXI/img.jpg?width=980" id="38e11" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="20b7c1ac291d870b2b28d3aec014250a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>Kittens in a bucket before they meet Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTY3Nzc4OX0.k7vzG9MEj67V4h2d2HmvGjw252ddTCgEn-epmD1BoA8/img.jpg?width=980" id="5de41" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8802d6a8e7b0e7aa2a334dc42c79dc83" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>A sphynx cat in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjkyNzAyMX0.wmwmqTgRzJ0ig0peSxL1ihkAACIIYgg8R7i9jjfqcn4/img.jpg?width=980" id="d8add" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8349083e0d9b234c1d696d6761b01814" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p><em>Portuguese Podengo puppies.</em></p> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTM0OTU3MH0.chVEsfDF3RQDR5a4kcqqjGm8_tj2CUMpjhBuLc9A7uQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="479b3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c6f609ef75ea8b55d4cc163df1f8288e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p> <p><em>Puppy in Shanghai.</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDY2MjM0OX0.kPSu9ssVn2TNaHZHW2h1HfbKfJ5n2iId-dyjuW5RAbk/img.jpg?width=980" id="8ea8d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4d66108aa539997585325e531f945388" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>A cat wearing headphones to listen to a radio. 1926. (Photo by Monty Fresco/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MTgzMDk0Nn0.KUFH1SCDW1aQ7vKO0153gHENUdZ7wet2GvupflhE688/img.jpg?width=980" id="d1fa3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9148df0b0386b823a11fab16476b2f07" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>An Exotic breed cat in New York City. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)</em></p> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODQwNjQ0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjE3Mzc1N30.n87TO8y0-ui21LdWdfVyvh0E80_gqZ9ROGCz0pyr08c/img.jpg?width=980" id="203ae" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="45658f0ff7b120a38dcfea6dfe8dff8f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p><em>A British Blue kitten trying to join his sister in an already full goldfish bowl. 1957. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)</em></p> <p>And if that wasn't enough, here are some cat stars from Instagram -- </p> <blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBHXSuOK5-Q/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Winston Smushface (@winstonsmushface)</a> on Jan 28, 2016 at 11:45pm PST</p> <p><script src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"> </p><blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/7wgnuQLCxK/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by nala_cat</a></p> <blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEINvo4OsEf/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by SNOOPY·babe (@snoopybabe)</a> on Apr 12, 2016 at 10:15pm PDT</p> <p><script src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"/> </p><blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_jifTBsXWK/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Coby The Cat (@cobythecat)</a> on Dec 21, 2015 at 5:19am PST</p> <blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCGpDNAw9xA/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Lil BUB (@iamlilbub)</a> on Feb 22, 2016 at 1:33pm PST</p> <p><script src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"/> </p><p><script src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"/> </p> <p>And of course, here come Instagram's puppy stars -</p> <blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 49.9074074074% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> </div><div style="background: url(data; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"/> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwTWNdvJba/" style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">life skills: always be alert ... you never know when a cookie will show up right in front of your face.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A photo posted by Buddy Boo Blue (@buddyboowaggytails) on Apr 28, 2016 at 11:54am PDT</p> <p><script src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"/> </p><blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> </div><div style="background: url(data; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"/> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGhAZzYTNZ7/" style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#wewokeuplikethis</a></p> <blockquote></blockquote><div style="padding: 8px;"> </div><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 57.9611650485% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> </div><div style="background: url(data; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"/> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGHh0QhKIwK/" style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Today's gonna be a good day! </a></p></script></p>
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