Have you ever felt overcome with emotion at the sight of a cute and fuzzy animal? Does seeing a picture of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy smiling make you want to pinch their cheeks? If you said yes to either question, you might be experiencing a response known as cute aggression, also known as playful aggression. Despite how the name might sound, this superficially aggressive response doesn鈥檛 mean you want to hurt anyone, only that you have an urge to squish them because they鈥檙e just so adorable.
Here鈥檚 how to tell if you have cute aggression and what you can do about it.
What Is Cute Aggression?
Cute aggression refers to an urge to squeeze, bite, or pinch something cute like a young animal or a human baby without any desire to cause them harm.
In response to positive experiences, some people express their feelings in a , meaning they show both positive and negative reactions. For instance, they might cry at a wedding or scream at the top of their lungs when they see their favorite band perform at a concert. Both of these are considered relatively normal behavior.
Researchers have found a link between , related to caretaking behaviors (e.g., holding, touching) and the feeling of being overwhelmed. People with cute aggression tend to display this response across a variety of situations rather than one specific occasion.
How Can I Tell If I Have Cute Aggression?
Cute aggression is a common response to dogs with infantile features, particularly puppies or Toy breeds such as the Pomeranian, Chihuahua, or Shih Tzu. One way to tell if you鈥檙e experiencing this urge is to notice your body language. When you see a puppy, do you grit your teeth or feel the urge to smother them in kisses?
Other signs of cute aggression are tension in the jaw, the desire to pinch or squeeze cute things, or even punch them. Though people don鈥檛 go through with these 鈥渁ggressive鈥� urges that are wrong
Since research on this phenomenon is still in its early stages, 鈥渢here aren鈥檛 any standards for defining it,鈥� says Dr. Jo Myers, DVM. 鈥淐ute aggression is not an illness or disorder, so there鈥檚 no 鈥榙iagnosing鈥� it. It鈥檚 just a common human reaction to seeing something cute.鈥�
Are There Any Dangers of Cute Aggression?
So long as you don鈥檛 carry out these slightly aggressive urges, you won鈥檛 be harming anyone else or yourself.
鈥淐ute aggression responses pose absolutely no danger to the human experiencing them or to dogs or whatever cute thing is triggering the reaction,鈥� Dr. Myers says. 鈥淐ute aggression is just an urge. It doesn鈥檛 lead to actual violence.鈥� In contrast, inflicting harm or suffering on an animal is animal abuse, which, to be clear, is not the same as cute aggression.
Most people have enough self-control not to squeeze a puppy too hard, otherwise, it could lead to actual harm.
What Can I Do to Reduce the Urge?
If you experience cute aggression, Dr. Myers recommends using 鈥渟elf-control to stifle the reaction since you don鈥檛 really want to hurt or scare the dog or put yourself in danger.鈥� Some dogs might not be comfortable meeting people they don鈥檛 know, so it鈥檚 always best to ask the owner for permission before petting their dog.
鈥淎void hugging or squeezing dogs since this is not part of normal canine body language,鈥� Dr. Myers says. 鈥淪ome dogs may find it stressful or even alarming to be hugged.鈥�
When you鈥檙e petting a dog, watch for signs of stress such as the dog yawning, panting, tucking their ears in, or licking their lips. It鈥檚 important to be mindful of a dog鈥檚 comfort level, especially when you鈥檙e interacting with puppies and Toy breeds, which are tiny and adorable, but also very fragile.
What If My Child Shows Cute Aggression?
鈥淢any dogs feel threatened and trapped when hugged and may respond aggressively by snapping, biting, or lunging,鈥� Dr. Myers explains. 鈥淔or this reason, it is very important to teach children to never hug dogs.鈥� The same rule applies to pulling at a dog鈥檚 tail or trying to pick them up.
If your child expresses feelings of cute aggression, Dr. Myers suggests saying, 鈥淎 lot of people feel that way. Isn鈥檛 that fascinating?鈥� Statements like these reinforce to the child that it鈥檚 normal to have these reactions which can help them become more in tune with their emotions and learn how to regulate them.
To keep everyone safe, never leave your child and puppy alone unattended. Instead, use toys such as a stuffed dog to help your child learn how to interact safely with the family dog.
Consider getting a for the toy that matches your dog鈥檚 gear, so your child can practice how to hold the dog on a leash and how much pressure to apply, which they can later use on an actual dog.
The urge to squish something cute might feel overwhelming but it鈥檚 not uncontrollable. In fact, cute aggression responses like screaming or clenching your fist have a purpose. They help people gain control over their emotions to avoid acting on their feelings and causing harm to others.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.