Puppies, kittens, babies, etc. There are universal things that the average person considers adorable. And, it turns out, humans are hard-wired to be drawn to certain traits.
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/A7GowSMfBhq6Y/giphy.gif)
What makes us go, “awww!”?
Scientific studies beginning in 1984 show that the more something looks like a stereotypically human baby, the more we will want to protect it. This phenomenon is called baby schema (kindchenschema). Some basic traits involved with baby schema are:
- Big heads (in proportion to their bodies)
- Soft, rounded features
- Youthful characteristics
To give ourselves an evolutionary advantage as a species, we are programmed to keep our offspring safe and well-fed. Thus, our brains associate these elements with cues for a nurturing instinct. In a fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), these same features activated the nucleus accumbens, the area of the brain that works with motivation and reward.
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/l0K4npvahH0RRvHWg/giphy.gif)
Can promo items be cute?
From baby schema, we can predict traits of inanimate objects that would activate baby schema in our brains and elicit a “cuteness” response.
- Small or miniature
- Rounded features
- Bright, youthful colors
Looking for a cute product to represent your brand? We polled our team for their top “cutest” items. Check them out by clicking below!
Sources:
ZME Science
Popsci.com