2025/07/29 by Nathalie Blanc, Anne-Sophie Tribot, Thierry Brassac +1 · 1 voice · 2 citations
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · Environmental Science · #Animal and Plant Science Education #Visual Culture and Art Theory #Urban Green Space and Health
paper · doi:10.1080/17439760.2025.2538890
This study examines the attribution of teddy bear cuteness based on visual evaluation of aesthetic, comfort, and care motivation. Using 436 teddy bear photos, the research quantifies the relationship between aesthetic attractivity and comfort attribution, and whether their interaction enhances individuals’ care motivation. The study involved 11,188 French participants, aged from 3 to 92 years old, recruited online. Beauty, comfort, and care values were highly correlated, meaning that visual cuteness of teddy bears relies on a combination of visual attractiveness and comfort attribution that trigger care motivation. Among visual characteristics, perceived softness was identified as the key determinant of cuteness. The age of the participants had an effect on preference patterns, suggesting an influence of stereotypical representations of teddy bears. This study provides a better understanding of the visual determinants of cuteness, and highlights how aesthetic and emotional evaluations of teddy bears influence care behaviors.