Here's Why You Want To Bite Things That Are So Cute You Can't Even

You know how, sometimes, your puppy looks so cute, you just want to take a big ol' bite out of him?

I mean, look at that face. Don't you want to grab some Dutch crunch and make an artisanal pup sandwich?!

I can't vouch for baby nibbling, but puppies? I'm all about it.

Turns out those of us who feel this way aren't weirdos after all (well, we are, but for different reasons). According to Yale scientists, there's a psychological reason behind the urge to bite cute babes.

Aptly called "cute aggression," these “dimorphous expressions” can help us regulate our emotions.

Oriana Aragon, a lead researcher on the study, told BuzzFeed,

We regulate emotions in a lot of different ways. Sometimes we try to rethink the situation. Sometimes we try to push our emotions down with sheer will. Sometimes we remove ourselves from the situation that is causing the emotions. And with this new discovery, we are figuring out that sometimes we respond with the opposite expression from what we feel, and that seems to help to balance us back out too.

So, it's all about balance. When you feel like you literally can't handle the cuteness overload, your brain has your back to balance that sh*t out so you can go back to enjoying all the cute things the world has to offer.

Our brains are so great.

Citations: There's Actually A Scientific Reason You Sometimes Want To Eat Your Baby (or Puppy) (BuzzFeed)