Explore the psychology of the phenomenon known as cute aggression, which is the urge to squeeze, bite or pinch something cute.



Watching a kitten fumbling around, it might feel as if you’ve never encountered anything so devastatingly adorable in your mortal life. You may want to pet its soft fur and kiss its tiny head. But you may also feel the conflicting urge… to squeeze or smush the kitten, maybe even stuff it in your mouth. What is this peculiar phenomenon? Joshua Paul Dale explores the urge known as cute aggression.

Lesson by Joshua Paul Dale, directed by Oksana Kurmaz.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/whydoyou...
Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/whydoyou...

Animator's website: https://kurmaz.me
Educator’s website: https://www.cutestudies.org


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