成年人對于嬰兒，不管是出現在照片上還是自己家或者別人家的，都會有積極的回應，和TA說話時聲音會變奶，心理年齡也瞬間降低，如果這個小孩長得再可愛一點，那他們仿佛心都化了，舍不得離開，這種現象就叫做cute response（可愛回應）。

Cute response is that humans are hardwired to prefer babies whether they are in the photo or in real life.

“可愛回應”指的是成年人無論看到嬰兒照片還是真實的嬰兒都能積極回應的現象。

Cuteness isn’t something that only adults can identify, children as young as three can also recognize adorable features. Even before they start school, children rate puppies, kittens and babies as 'cuter' than their adult counterparts, according to a recent study. And apparently, in young children, the faces of dogs are thought of more fondly than that of humans and cats.

對可愛的識別和回應不僅是成年人能做到的事，三歲大的兒童同樣能識別出那些可愛的特征。最近一項研究顯示，學前的兒童會覺得小狗小貓和嬰兒比他們的成年人父母更可愛。而顯然，孩子們對狗的可愛程度評分高過了貓和人類。

It found that cuteness is wrapped up in what psychologists call ‘cute response’ - a set of infantile features such as a round face, high forehead, big eyes and a small nose and mouth. Cute response has been shown to stimulate protective, care-giving behavior and reduced aggression in adults.

人們印象中的可愛的種種特征會激發所謂的“可愛回應”，比如臉圓圓、高額頭、大眼睛、小鼻子和小嘴。而據說這種反應能促進成年人看護嬰兒，減少侵犯行為。

（中國日報網英語點津 實習生馬歅卓 編輯：陳丹妮）