THE CUTENESS FACTOR

[darren.naish@port.ac.uk]

Betty C wrote...

> in MAMMALS the juvenile face is preadapted for cuteness.  That is -
> large eyes and snubby snout.  This triggeres nurtering behavior.  
> These facial proportions grow out/become the adult morph usually 
> within the first year (us humans are genetically deficient in this)

With all due respect to those who keep touting the 'baby face' 
argument (viz, that cute short faces in juveniles elicit a parental 
care response), it is rubbish. Look at baby lizards and even 
some fishes, in which the babies have short skulls, big eyes and snub 
noses - all the hallmarks of the juvenile baby-face - yet do not 
necessarily enjoy post-hatching parental care. I would also regard 
baby megapodes as 'cute', yet their parents have no interest in them 
whatsoever as post-hatched entities, and in fact are thoroughly 
nasty to them.

Fact is, baby faces elicit a parental care response in PRIMATES, 
hence our bias that all baby-faced juveniles need looking after. 

".. as slowly but surely, they drew their plans against us"

DARREN NAISH
darren.naish@port.ac.uk