Why do we say “aww” when we see small, fluffy things?
Mark Thompson
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK
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This instinctive or emotional response is often related to a few psychological and evolutionary factors. Humans are wired to find certain features adorable, such as big eyes, small noses and soft fur. This is often referred to as the “cuteness response”. These features trigger nurturing instincts and elicit a positive emotional response.
The instinct to care for and protect small, vulnerable creatures is deeply ingrained in human behaviour. When we see something cute, our brain will trigger feelings of affection and a desire to nurture and protect, which is expressed through the verbalisation “aww”.
Throughout human evolution, care and protection of offspring were crucial to the survival of our species. Responding positively to cuteness played a role in ensuring that caregivers were attentive and protective of their young, enhancing the chances of survival for the next generation.
We aren’t alone in this; most mammals evolved this way for the protection of their young. After all, the common ancestor of all mammals appeared around 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. It was a small, shrew-like, insect-eating tetrapod. That is a lot of time to evolve the aww reflex.
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