Cute aggression

Cute aggression, or playful aggression, is the urge to squeeze or bite things perceived as being cute without the desire to cause any harm. It is a common type of dimorphous display, where a person experiences positive and negative expressions simultaneously in a disorganised manner.[1] Individuals experiencing cute aggression may find themselves clenching their jaw or fists, with the urge to squish, pinch or bite an adorable baby, animal, or object.[2]

  1. ^ Aragón, Oriana R.; Clark, Margaret S.; Dyer, Rebecca L.; Bargh, John A. (2015-01-27). "Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion: Displays of Both Care and Aggression in Response to Cute Stimuli". Psychological Science. 26 (3): 259–273. doi:10.1177/0956797614561044. ISSN 0956-7976. PMID 25626441.
  2. ^ "Cute aggression: why you might want to squash every adorable thing you see". UNSW Sites. Retrieved 2024-04-15.