Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00411

Paper

Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children

Published Mar 31, 2014 · M. Borgi, Irene Cogliati-Dezza, Victoria L. Brelsford

Frontiers in Psychology

Q2 SJR score

172

Citations

12

Influential Citations

Full textSemantic Scholar

Abstract

The baby schema concept was originally proposed as a set of infantile traits with high appeal for humans, subsequently shown to elicit caretaking behavior and to affect cuteness perception and attentional processes. However, it is unclear whether the response to the baby schema may be extended to the human-animal bond context. Moreover, questions remain as to whether the cute response is constant and persistent or whether it changes with development. In the present study we parametrically manipulated the baby schema in images of humans, dogs, and cats. We analyzed responses of 3–6 year-old children, using both explicit (i.e., cuteness ratings) and implicit (i.e., eye gaze patterns) measures. By means of eye-tracking, we assessed children’s preferential attention to images varying only for the degree of baby schema and explored participants’ fixation patterns during a cuteness task. For comparative purposes, cuteness ratings were also obtained in a sample of adults. Overall our results show that the response to an infantile facial configuration emerges early during development. In children, the baby schema affects both cuteness perception and gaze allocation to infantile stimuli and to specific facial features, an effect not simply limited to human faces. In line with previous research, results confirm human positive appraisal toward animals and inform both educational and therapeutic interventions involving pets, helping to minimize risk factors (e.g., dog bites).

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Study Snapshot

The baby schema in human and animal faces affects cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children, indicating a positive appraisal of animals and influencing educational and therapeutic interventions involving pets.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Baby schema in human and animal faces induces cuteness perception and gaze allocation in children

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References

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Infants aged 2-6 months can be assessed for potential Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using eye-tracking devices, potentially enabling early intervention and skill development.

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Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) may enhance social functioning and reduce social stress and anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

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Food rewards in training improve horses' selective attention towards their trainer, leading to better human-horse relationships.

Parental misperception of youngest child size

Parents often misperceive their youngest child as smaller than he/she is, leading to apparent growth in the first child after the birth of a second child due to a mismatch between accurate perception and stored memories.

Children’s Preferences for Infantile Features in Dogs and Cats

Children show a preference for more infantile cats, but no differences were found in dog faces, and show a preference for animals over non-animal stimuli, with factors like sex, age, and pet ownership influencing their responses.

Citations

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