Kindchenschema and Cuteness Elicit Interest in Caring for and Playing with Young Children, But Less So in the Presence of Masks

Abstract

Does mask-wearing by children affect how they are perceived by others in a way that is relevant for their development? Masks may interfere with the perception of kindchenschema—physical characteristics shared by the young that are perceived as “cute” and indicate dependence and the need for care. To the extent that masks cover up children’s “cute” features, they may limit others’ ability to respond to them with age-appropriate concern and interest. Across 4 experiments, we found evidence in support of this hypothesis. We found that kindchenschema, assessed via facial measurements, was associated with perceived cuteness and age in children. However, these relations were weakened in the presence of masks. Kindchenschema, as well as perceived cuteness and age ratings from Experiment 1, predicted new participants’ interest in playing with (Expts 2 and 3) and caring for (Expt 4) children. However, again, these relations were weakened in the presence of masks. These findings highlight a previously unconsidered consequence of child mask-wearing that warrants attention in order to mitigate negative effects. They also call for further research on how cuteness and other signals of age-related dependency shape adults’ interactions with children, and, consequently, children’s development.