ArticleScientific reports2022
Kindchenschema and cuteness elicit interest in caring for and playing with young children, but less so when children are masked.
Article in Scientific reports, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Examining the Link Between Social Affect and Visual Exploration of Cute Stimuli in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025Article
- Motion-based baby schema in infant gait: inversion effect and the influence of maternal experience.Scientific reports · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
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Abstract
Cuteness in the young has long been theorized to elicit care and protection. Most research on this topic has focused on human infants, despite theories suggesting that cuteness may elicit broader social interest that could support learning and development beyond infancy. In four experiments (N = 531 adults, 98 children), we tested whether 'kindchenschema'-facial features associated with cuteness-and perceived cuteness elicit interest in playing with and caring for children, and whether masks disrupt these processes. Participants viewed images of children's faces, masked or unmasked. Kindchenschema correlated with perceived cuteness and age, and these variables predicted adults' interest in playing with and caring for children. Masks did not reduce cuteness ratings or interest in children, although they weakened relations between perceived cuteness and interest, and between perceived age and interest. Cuteness and related signals may guide adults' interactions with children, fostering learning and development.
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