Firefighter Rescues Injured Bear Cub at Moon Fire

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the emotional responses humans have towards young animals, particularly in the context of a firefighter rescuing an injured bear cub. Participants explore the reasons behind the perception of animal babies as cute and the psychological and aesthetic qualities that may contribute to this phenomenon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the general cuteness of young animals and question why this perception exists, suggesting it may be an adaptive response.
  • Others propose that certain aesthetic qualities, such as healthy fur and pink skin, contribute to the perception of cuteness.
  • One participant suggests that the awkwardness and physical characteristics of animal babies trigger a protective instinct similar to that for human babies.
  • There is a discussion about specific visual cues, such as large eyes and facial proportions, that may evoke emotional responses.
  • Auditory triggers, such as high-pitched sounds made by young animals, are also mentioned as factors that may enhance their perceived cuteness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the characteristics that contribute to the perception of cuteness in young animals, with no consensus reached on the underlying reasons or mechanisms.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about psychological responses and aesthetic qualities are not fully explored, leaving room for further discussion on the interplay between visual and auditory cues in eliciting emotional responses.

Andre
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Poor little thing.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jul/17/firefighter-rescues-tiny-injured-bear-moon-fire/

http://media.redding.com/redd/content/img/photos/2008/07/17/bearcub.jpg
 
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Awww... why are young animals so cute? Possums when they get older are fairly hideous but the baby ones are really cute.
 
It IS rather strange that humans find most animal babies cute.
It isn't strange that we find human babies cute (that's after all their main adaptive weapon!), but other animals' young? Very strange..

Possibly, it might be an adaptive "misfiring" in that because we have the intelligence to see that these cuties are babies, our own human-oriented baby empathy is kicked into action..
 
Maybe it's certain healthy asthetic qualities. New healthy fur/hair. Pink healthy skin. And the awkward disproportion of their bodies seems to play a role aswell.
 
Only six to eight weeks old...I hope he will be OK.

One of those fires is very near the town where I grew up, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Such a beautiful forest - Ponderosa pine, Sugar pine, Douglas fir, Cedar.
 
But aren't awkwardness and pinkness qualities we perceive in the human baby?

As I see it, we have laid down in us the syllogism: Baby implies cutie to be protected.

This is sufficient for the protection of human babies, but that simplistic algorithm overshoots, so that whenever we identify something as a "baby", it springs into action, whether it is a human or non-human one..
 
arildno said:
But aren't awkwardness and pinkness qualities we perceive in the human baby?

As I see it, we have laid down in us the syllogism: Baby implies cutie to be protected.

This is sufficient for the protection of human babies, but that simplistic algorithm overshoots, so that whenever we identify something as a "baby", it springs into action, whether it is a human or non-human one..

Yes. I was trying to determine just what characteristics human babies and other mammal babies share that would trigger it. I don't think it is entirely psychological. There are likely certain visual/asthetic cues that evoke the psychological response.
 
I think the (over)large, open eyes is an important trigger.
 
arildno said:
I think the (over)large, open eyes is an important trigger.

Lol... yes! And the squinty scrunched up face look too!
 
  • #10
Auditive triggers would be yelps, mewling and crying in a high, plaintive pitch.

Their willingness to snuggle close to someone they trust is probably important, too.
 
  • #11
Smokey Jr. is just so cute!
 
  • #12
arildno said:
I think the (over)large, open eyes is an important trigger.

Large eyes, large cranium in relation to face, tiny nose, mouth. Large head in relation to body, fat, etc.

Probably facial relationships are the most powerful - humans are exquisitely tuned for facial recognition and subtleties.
 
  • #13
arildno said:
I think the (over)large, open eyes is an important trigger.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/cyclops-kitten-no-hoax/2006/01/11/1136956230663.html"
 
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