Miniature Versions of Things

It’s a well-known phenomenon that people tend to think that itty-bitty, tiny, mini versions of things tend to be cuter than larger versions. People are undoubtedly drawn to things that are small. It permeates fashion, design, food, even pets. It creeps into our culture as slang–we all know that smol doggos are puppers–and as marketing fodder (from the Taco Bell dog to the Geico Gecko).

While countless studies are conducted every year to better understand the human mind, there is surprisingly little direct research on the science of “cute.” What we do know, is that humans think little things are cute, and are drawn to them in a number of ways (some more obvious than others).

Why We Think Mini Things are Cute

There are a few different reasons why we are drawn to small, cute things. They tend to fall into the following categories.

Humans are nurturers by nature

When humans come across small things, especially animals and other humans, our instinct to nurture and protect them immediately fires up. When we see a miniature creature, or an adorable figurine, we have similar responses in our brains. We want to bring that thing in close to us, and make sure that no harm befalls it. Our instinct and nature is to protect, nurture, and help things that are smaller and weaker than ourselves.

This instinct makes perfect sense–it’s what drives us to protect our own young, thus helping to propagate the species (a main evolutionary imperative). This instinct has been shown to “spill over” when other things or creatures display similar characteristics to our own young–rounded head, small size, relatively large eyes, for example. This explains why things like puppies and certain types of dolls tend to bring out a parental instinct in people. We are instinctively drawn to these features, with a need to care for them and treat them positively.

We are drawn to things that we know won’t hurt us

Another reason that humans tend to enjoy small versions of things, is that we know that they can’t hurt us. This can be traced back the evolutionary ladder, as a very sensible survival instinct.

Humans are, by nature, insatiably curious creatures. We seek out experience and information, and use it to better our lives. Being drawn to the smallest versions of things allows us to engage and discover, without the danger that could be inherent in approaching a full-sized version of that thing.

This could apply to nearly anything–climbing to the top of a full-sized tree to learn more about it is a dangerous undertaking but observing the growth of a sapling from the ground is a different story. Same with animals–or in the modern day, vehicles!

Humans enjoy the sense of control that small things give us

Humans crave control. We love to be able to manipulate and impact our environment. It’s one of the reasons why rearranging your furniture feels so liberating. It puts you in control and gives your a psychological boost.

Miniature versions of things make this feeling much more easily achievable. Doll house and model train enthusiasts certainly understand the thrill of creating, maintaining, and ultimately changing and updating a miniature environment. But you don’t need to go all in with a giant model city or home to get that same feeling. Mini kits to help us build models, bake cakes, or store our goodies, all allow us to feel control on a small scale, without the expense or time commitment that some other hobbies require.

We have a fascination and love for toys throughout our lives

Toy versions of things are often our first experience with an object. We play with toy trucks and kitchen appliances long before we come into contact with the real versions. We also tend to associate these toys with positive memories and experiences. After all, toys are meant to be fun.

As we get older, we are still drawn to “toy-like” things, and to the toys of our past. Many of these toys also play on our other instincts–utilizing all of the “cute” features that our nurturing selves are drawn to. Finally, we associate children’s toys with the children who use them, which fires up our instinct to nurture as well.

Miniatures pack information and stimulation into a small area

It’s the nature of human beings to seek out information and stimulation. We are consistently drawn to the most information-dense areas of artwork, webpages, etc. This principle is used to great effect in print and online design, but it far predates those fields.

Miniatures pack a lot of visual stimuli and information into a small area, which makes them inherently interesting. We want to hold them close and inspect them. We’ve seen this throughout history–indeed, we’ve seen this in artwork that predates written history!

This is not a trend

Although certain small items may in fact be “trendy” at any given time, the fascination with things in miniature is not a trend that will die out anytime soon.

From the enduring prevalence of dollhouses and model trains, to the timeless use of miniatures as children’s toys, to prehistoric sculptures of humans and creatures–this love for miniature versions of things has endured centuries, and with the ever-more impressive ways that technology is influencing us all, we’re sure to see more miniature versions of things that we never even considered possible!

Everybody loves miniature versions of things–you just need to find the right things!