In relation to what I discussed in my
Prometheus blog post on how audiences react and relate to creatures on the
screen and possibly using a creature that resembled a domestic/safe animal to
confuse the situation for the characters and audience; I want to explore how
and why we find certain creatures cute.
Konrad Lorenz was an Austrian Zoologist,
Ethologist and Ornithologist who did lots of studies on animals and their behavior.
He sought to answer why do the babies of many species appear cute – or the
‘baby schema’. Since Lorenz published his ideas, scientists have collected
studies and evidence that show that we do in fact find infant faces appealing
in both our own kind, and in other species. We are drawn to features such as
chubby checks, big eyes and small noses. These characteristics in the baby
schema show that animals perceived as cute or cuddly motivates caretaking
behavior. Characteristics other than the head are a plump body and thick limbs,
which are also apart of the baby schema within human babies and young
animals.
Tests published in various scientific
journals throughout the years show that adult humans feel positive emotions
while viewing pictures of human babies. They also feel less aggressive and
become tenderer and want to take care of the infants that they see. These
feelings are thought to increase the ability to parent, making the child’s
chances of survival greater. Infants naturally have these features to be cute
to adults to help them with their care and protection. Animals such as
Orangutans that need long term parental care, as infants have a large head,
eyes and protruding forehead, which could act as a bias to enhance offspring
survival. Even the babies of dangerous animals have that endearing quality.
More
studies have shown that adult humans are not only attracted to babies of their
own species, but also the babies of others such as cats and dogs. We have empathy
for animals; however, certain groups react differently such as children find
pictures of baby animals cuter than adults. Studies also show that women react
more positively than men to pictures of baby animals as well as human babies. Theories for this are simply that baby animals share
similar features such as large eyes, a rounded face, small nose and a plump
small body. Studies conducted in 2012 show that after looking at the faces of
infant pets, they rated the faces of infant humans cuter than they did
previously; suggesting that they have become more attached to the
characteristics of cuteness.
Konrad Lorenz’s studies may have been correct, we are attached
to the features of our own infants but we also see similar characteristics in
other baby animals. We are biologically programmed to care for babies.
I believe that using these characteristics that adults find cute,
I can create a creature that has the audience be drawn to it, have positive
feelings towards. Even though the creature itself, could actually be very
vicious and dangerous, having the ultimate surprise for the audience. It would
be very interesting to create these kinds of creatures and see how different
people react to them and see if this will work.
Below is the link to the research I did for this blog post.
No comments:
Post a Comment