Cute as a Bagel

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Cuteness, on the other hand, has universal standards. According to several scientific studies, these include big eyes, round faces and other infantile features.

Cuteness also seems to have universal appeal. An Atlanta psychology professor found that “men and women showed nearly identical responses to cute stimuli,” although they rate it differently for social reasons.

Some say cuteness is a survival adaptation that triggers nurturing from adults. But that can’t be true, since people also love to eat cute things.

Still, the effects of cuteness on our brains’ pleasure centers are evident. They give laughing babies, sleepy rodents—even Hello Kitty—power over us. And unleashing this power is a great way to infuse bagels with extra charm.