How To Know Whether You Have Cute Aggression

Have you ever seen a cute puppy and felt the urge to pinch their cheeks? You might be experiencing a response known as "cute aggression." Although the name sounds a bit troubling, it doesn't mean that you intend to hurt anyone.

Cute aggression is the urge to squeeze, bite, or pinch something adorable, such as a human baby or a young animal, without wanting to harm them. It often manifests when people interact with dogs with infantile features, particularly puppies or toy breeds like the Chihuahua.

One way to determine whether you're experiencing this phenomenon is to observe how you interact with a puppy. Do you grit your teeth or feel the urge to smother them in kisses? Also, when you see something cute, do you feel like pinching, squeezing, or punching them? If your answer is yes to either of those questions, you might be experiencing cute aggression.

"Cute aggression is not an illness or disorder, so there’s no ‘diagnosing’ it. It’s just a common human reaction to seeing something cute.” says Dr. Jo Myers, DVM.

Cute aggression poses no risk to anyone if you do not carry out those aggressive urges. The key is to learn self-control and refrain from acting out those urges since you don't want to hurt or scare the puppy or baby.