'Eating Up' Cute Puppies: Why Do We Want to Do It?

Puppies so cute that you want to squeeze 'em, eat them even! Turns out, we do have a physical reaction to cuteness--literally, we want to care for it, and if we can't care for it, we want to do something with it. Anthony reports on how cuteness draws out our playful aggression.

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[mandypandyify]

I never wanna eat cute things, I just wanna cuddle them and squeeze them and pet their fur. :3

[notpickybutstrict]

My findings are uncontrolled smiling and constant awwing.

[animalplanet]

Great video Anthony & DNews! We were thinking...someone should totally make a TV show "exploiting" this very reaction.

...oh wait...

[poole]

I must say, in a completely professional way, HOLY CRAP ITS FREAKING

[Assumednewt]

If you give me bubble rap I am not going to pay attention to anything until all the bubbles are popped

[michelfoshe]

Sometimes my cats so cute I just want to choke it

[Logitah]

I keep gnashing my teeth when I see something cute...Now I know why.

[FloraSora]

Alright, I love cute stuff... in general, but holy crap, does everybody but me do all of this squeezing and eating stuff? The whole "eat them up!" phrase has always been so alien to me. Perhaps it's because I would actually prefer some pretty mechs instead. heh

[dillgif]

I want to just squeeze the little puppy into my face and hug it and cry for days and days while I feel it's soft fur and cry... *sobs* that puppy is just so cute I just can't I want to squish it and ughhhh I want that puppy

[MsWannabeGamer]

I don't understand the whole phenomenon of squeezing cute things. I want to touch them too, but in the most gentle way possible. Lightly petting, giving it soft kisses, gently scratching behind the ear. Of all things, why do you have to squeeze it to death?

[maggotpunk]

We finally know why you want hug, squeeze, love and name that puppy George.

[NeonFuckingRainbows]

"NO! You cannot smoosh that puppy!"
I loved that!

[alekever]

Thank you DNews, you just gave me cute induced Diabetes.

[ArizonaPatriot]

My hubby calls it "Elmira-ing" when I take one of our pets and cuddle and kiss it mercilessly.

[abunaiakane]

My studies reveal that animals just deserve to be huggled. (thats hug and cuddle combined) :D 

[heartfthedragn]

Am I the only one who finds human babies disgusting?

[kuneria]

I remember when I saw a pair of of puppies, a german shepherd and a husky, I threw myself against the glass of the pet shop and clawed at the glass and started making inaudible squeeing noises and a lot of other inhuman sound effects and then I just started crying and digging at my arms.
It must have been quite an interesting sight considering i am an 18 year old GUY...

[JukeboxTheGhoul]

I thought my family and I were the only ones with this urge, haha. CUTE.

[dave]

that is the best scientific research ever!

[DreamlessNights]

My first thought was Elmyra and I am so disappointed that she wasn't referenced.

However, this video is so on point.