爲什麼我們喜歡又小又萌的東西大綱
1. WE'RE NURTURERS BY NATURE …
1. 我們是天生的養育者In 1943, Nobel Laureate Konrad Lorenz, one of the founding fathers of ethology (animal behavior), proposed that features like a rounded head, small size, and big eyes-what are called neotenic, or baby-animal, characteristics-promote parental care. This nurturing response can serve to enhance offspring survival, and has been described as a fundamental function of human social cognition. Recent studies have extended the concept of cuteness to auditory and olfactory cues (baby laughter, or that amazing new baby smell) that prompt affection and caregiving.
1943年，諾貝爾獲獎者康拉德·諾倫茲（動物行爲學的創始人之一）提出了有着圓頭、大眼睛、小尺寸特徵的新生兒或小動物會讓人們產生保護欲。這種養育反應促進了後代的生存，被描述爲人類社會認知的基本功能。最近的研究已經將可愛的概念拓展至聽覺和嗅覺信號（嬰兒的笑聲或嬰兒的奶香味），認爲這些信號或能促進感情、讓人們產生照顧欲。Interestingly, some research suggests that we don't just think that small things are cute, but also that cute things are smaller than their actual size. For instance, mothers misperceive their youngest kids as much shorter than they are in reality, an illusion that may result in their allocating greater care and resources to the last-born child.
有趣的是，有些研究認爲我們不止認爲小東西很可愛，而且還認爲萌物的尺寸比它本身還要小。例如，母親總會誤以爲孩子的身高比實際上更矮，這種錯覺可能會導致他們給予最小的孩子更多的關愛。
2. … AND SMALL THINGS MAKE US ACT WITH CARE.
2. 小東西會讓我們小心行事Cuteness motivates us to protect the object of our affection, turning us into focused, gentle caretakers. In a 2009 study, scientists reported that participants that viewed very cute images of puppies and kittens performed better in the children's game Operation than participants that saw less cute images of dogs and cats. Subsequent research, by Hiroshi Nittono and his colleagues at Hiroshima University in Japan, found that cuteness improves our performance at times when we need to be careful: Flimsy tiny furniture and other miniature collectibles may seem cute because we know that they could break unless we handle them delicately.
我們會對喜愛的萌物產生保護欲，所以會變成專注的、溫柔的照看者。在2009年的一份研究中，科學家報道：看貓和狗可愛照片較多的受試者，在兒童比賽Operation中的表現更好。Hiroshi Nittono及其同事在日本廣島大學開展的後續研究發現：可愛會讓我們更加小心。脆弱的小傢俱和其它微型收藏品看起來非常可愛，因爲我們知道如果不輕拿輕放，它們就有破碎的可能。
3. WE LIKE THAT THEY CAN'T HURT US.
3. 我們喜歡它們，因爲它們不會傷害我們Cuteness in human infants has been linked to their helplessness. Small objects, by virtue of their size, tend to pose little danger. "One of the critical features that make a thing cute is the absence of feeling threatened. Small things are likely to meet this condition," Nittono tells Mental Floss.
小寶寶很可愛，這可能與它們的無助感相關。小的東西往往不會構成威脅。"萌物最顯著的特點之一就是它們沒有威脅感。而小東西正好符合這一特徵，"Nittono對Mental Floss說道。4. WE LOVE TOYS, NO MATTER OUR AGE.
4. 我們喜歡玩具，無論年齡Cuteness extends to inanimate objects such as dolls and other toys. Teddy bears have changed over time to look cuter and more baby-like. Miniatures may look cute, in addition, because we connect them with toys and child play. Because young children are cute, their toys and other possessions may become cute by association.
玩偶和其它玩具也很可愛。隨着時間的推移，泰迪熊已長得越來越萌、越來越像寶寶。此外，微型模型也很可愛，因爲我們會將其視作玩具，和寶寶一起玩。因爲小朋友很可愛，所以他們的玩具和其它物品也會因爲我們的愛屋及烏而變得可愛。
