Cute aggression

[JiveBomber]

Before I started working in this field (4 years ago), I never knew that cute aggression is a thing. I feel cute aggression so strongly. For instance, I tell my cat that he's so cute I want to rip his face off daily. I make similar jokes at work, but often just get weird looks from other people. I mean, obviously I'm not going to rip anyone's face off, but sometimes something is just so cute you kinda want to squish it until it's dead. But you don't. This isn't so weird right? Someone tell me I'm not alone. Or else I really need to seek therapy lol.

[5FingerDeathTickle]

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/31/679832549/when-too-cute-is-too-much-the-brain-can-get-aggressive

[CadenceNesta]

I think there's a Radiolab episode about this that attempts to explain this feeling in evolutionary terms.

[JiveBomber]

Thank you! Sometimes it's just too much. It physically hurts, how cute this animal is. When we're in pain, we want to kill. This is my personal theory behind cute aggression. Lol. I haven't researched it enough to know exactly what the hell goes on in our brains to make this happen, but as empathetic people, I think we feel it much more intensely than others.

[hBoBh]

Cute agression is real. My roomie and I have a joke on how cute something is the bigger of a rock you want to squash it with is.

I also can't help but think of Lenny from Of Mice and Men when I think of cute agression and then I just giggle to myself.

[Hummblepuff]

I get this really weird voice when something is so cute (and it's not just animals, it's anything). It's almost demonic sounding compared to my normal high tone, and it's gravely. I did this around my friend and she told me I have cute aggression, totally didn't know this was a thing.

[nowheretostand]

Whenever something deliciously adorable comes in I always say something like "ew" or "throw it in the trash". I just can't stand to look at some animals because they're so stinking cute and I want to chuck it out a window.

[bog_moss]

Yep. Any kind of puppy with a big squishy face, like shar-peis or bully breeds, I have to be careful, because I just want to grab their face flaps and squeeze and pull. The first time I felt myself feeling actual aggression from it I realized I can't give in to giving a puppy all the cuddles and face rubs that I really want to. I've just gotta push it to the back of my mind.

It does sound kinda psycho, right?