Finding a person or animal cute may seem subjective, but a team of researchers claims to have found a way to scientifically define it.
Experts analysed hundreds of faces by running them through a computer program to identify the perfect combination of cute facial features.
The formula claims chubby cheeks, a small chin, undersized nose, large eyes and rosy complexion hold the key to cuteness in children – and the theory also applies to adults.
It is the first time scientists have devised a formula that defines which human characteristics are considered to be cute.
The study was conducted by St Andrew’s University School of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Professor David Perrett asked 90 adults to analyse and rate the cuteness of 200 infant faces.
Software was then used to identify the features consistently prevalent in the 20 faces at the top and bottom of the cute scale.
This allowed Professor Perrett to define which characteristics in particular contribute to cuteness.
The face of many Disney characters, for example, have these facial features – most recently Anna and Elsa from Frozen.
The report was commissioned to mark the launch of Hallmark’s new card range, Little Meow.
It claims that when this cute formula is applied to images of both men and women, those facial features perceived as ‘cute’ in infants – such as chubby cheeks and a button nose – also contribute to cuteness in adult faces.
Experiments also revealed that a subtle manipulation in face shape – as little as a 20 per cent application of the cute formula – was all that was needed to maximise cuteness in an adult face.
These subtle adaptations do not change adults into infants, but instead involve the induction of features reminiscent of a younger appearance.
David Perrett, Professor of Psychology at the university said: ‘Cuteness can evoke both emotions of pleasure and care in humans, so we were keen to discover exactly what makes a person cute.
‘By conducting the first comprehensive scientific study of ‘cuteness’, that is, an exhaustive investigation into what is the ideal combination of features required to make a face ‘cute’ we were able to devise a precise formula for facial cuteness.’
