The infant's physical attractiveness: Its effect on bonding and attachment

The results of a project concerned with studying infants' physical attractiveness are reviewed. Information on what makes an infant cute and what the effects of infant cuteness are, is provided. These findings and hypotheses derived from them are then discussed in relation to the bonding and attachment phenomena. It is suggested that adults' initial reactions to the appearance of any infant are similar to what occurs during bonding, whereas differential reactions to infants varying in appearance are similar to the variability observed in the construction of an attachment relationship. Adults' reactions to atypical appearance are also discussed.

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