Why We Sometimes Want to Squeeze or Bite Things That Are Adorable
Have you ever felt an overwhelming urge to pinch, squeeze, or even playfully bite someone because they were just too cute? At first, it may seem strange — even alarming — but science shows this reaction is far more common than most people realize. Could our brains actually be wired to respond this way when confronted with overwhelming affection?
Researchers have studied a peculiar emotional response often described as the urge to pinch, squeeze, or bite something extremely adorable. While it can feel intense or confusing, it is surprisingly widespread.
Human emotions are complex and often overlap, producing reactions that seem contradictory. This mix of powerful feelings and seemingly “messy” behavior is a natural part of being human. The behavior, often joked about among friends, occurs when something is so overwhelmingly cute that we feel compelled to act physically — whether by pinching a baby’s cheeks, giving a gentle squeeze, or playfully biting.
Experts call this reaction “cute aggression”. It is harmless and does not indicate danger or instability. Oriana Aragon, a social psychologist and assistant professor of marketing at the University of Cincinnati, has spent over a decade studying these phenomena, known as dimorphous expressions — emotional reactions that appear contradictory on the surface.
“Those strong feelings well up inside us, but we display something opposite to care and affection,” Aragon explains. “We bite, pinch, or act aggressively outwardly, even though we mean no harm.”
In a 2021 study, over 75% of participants admitted to shedding tears of joy at some point — a classic example of a dimorphous expression. Other reactions, like the urge to pinch or squeeze, are less common but still fall within the normal spectrum of human emotional behavior.
These expressions are universal, occurring across cultures, genders, and age groups, though social norms can influence how openly people act on them. Many individuals take care to ensure their behavior is not misinterpreted, particularly when it could seem aggressive.
“From my research on tears of joy, people who display dimorphous expressions often clarify, saying, ‘These are happy tears,’ to make sure everyone understands it’s not negative,” Aragon adds.
Conclusion
Feeling the urge to squeeze, pinch, or playfully bite someone you love is a scientifically recognized emotional response — not a sign of danger or instability. Cute aggression and other dimorphous expressions reveal the complexity of human feelings, showing how joy, love, and care can sometimes manifest in unexpected, seemingly contradictory ways.
Understanding these reactions helps us appreciate the full spectrum of human emotion and the playful quirks that make us uniquely human.