Abstract
The baby schema concept was originally proposed as a set of infantile traits with high appeal for humans, subsequently shown to elicit caretaking behavior and to affect cuteness perception and attentional processes. However, it is unclear whether the response to the baby schema may be extended to the human-animal bond context. Moreover, questions remain as to whether the cute response is constant and persistent or whether it changes with development. In the present study we parametrically manipulated the baby schema in images of humans, dogs, and cats. We analyzed responses of 3–6 year-old children, using both explicit (i.e., cuteness ratings) and implicit (i.e., eye gaze patterns) measures. By means of eye-tracking, we assessed children’s preferential attention to images varying only for the degree of baby schema and explored participants’ fixation patterns during a cuteness task. For comparative purposes, cuteness ratings were also obtained in a sample of adults. Overall our results show that the response to an infantile facial configuration emerges early during development. In children, the baby schema affects both cuteness perception and gaze allocation to infantile stimuli and to specific facial features, an effect not simply limited to human faces. In line with previous research, results confirm human positive appraisal toward animals and inform both educational and therapeutic interventions involving pets, helping to minimize risk factors (e.g., dog bites).
Highlights
It has been hypothesized that humans exhibit a natural interest and attraction to other species
Overall our results show that the response to an infantile facial configuration emerges early during development
The procedure used to modify facial configurations was originally developed by Glocker et al (2009a) and applied to faces of human infants to show that the baby schema affects cuteness perception and motivation for caretaking in adults, suggesting a neurophysiologic mechanism by which baby schema could promote human nurturing behavior (Glocker et al, 2009b)
Summary
It has been hypothesized that humans exhibit a natural interest and attraction to other species (the so-called Biophilia Hypothesis, Wilson, 1984). Children are more likely to be attentive and to have increased motivational levels in the presence of animals and this has led to the inclusion of different animal species both in educational and therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting healthy development in children (Cirulli et al, 2011; Endenburg and van Lith, 2011; Berry et al, 2013; O’Haire, 2013). Despite recent advances in child psychology research on human–animal interactions (e.g., benefits of contacts with animals during development, dog bite prevention, links between animal and child abuse), very little attention has been paid to the identification of specific animal characteristics underpinning distinct behavioral responses in humans, in children. More research is needed to identify animal features and traits able to influence children’s attraction to animals and, their affiliative response toward them
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