Word of the Day!

Neoteny, n.: retention of childlike physical traits into adulthood.


“Other bears can also be cute, especially when they’re babies,” says James Serpell, a professor emeritus of ethics and animal welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. But as other bears mature, “they have more pronounced faces, longer jaws.” They start to look more intimidating. Pandas “have very short faces for a bear. And this big, big round head.”

The big round head is key.

Also, they play with toys. And they’re clumsy, like human toddlers.

There is a scientific term for this retention of childlike physical traits into adulthood: neoteny.

And there’s a name for the way we react to neoteny: the “Cute Response.” Serpell, who has studied this, says it is a universal response to pandas across cultures."

You can read more, and see pictures in this Washington Post article (gift link)

Edit: from full_metal_ox :

Scaled the paywall for readers who can’t bring through the link:

https://archive.ph/eCbhM

And here’s an illustrative essay by Stephen Jay Gould, explaining why cartoon characters tend to evolve cuter and more juvenile character design, with bigger eyes, shorter snouts, and larger head-to-body-size ratios as their popularity grows:

https://faculty.uca.edu/benw/biol4415/papers/Mickey.pdf