Admit it, you wanted at least once to literally strangle in the arms of a pretty child, a fluffy kitten, a funny puppy? This is a natural reaction with an excess of feelings. That’s why it occurs.
Has it happened to you: a small child or a pet so nice and charming that you want to squeeze him “to death”? To designate such a “temporary insanity” there is the term “aggressive tenderness.”
It manifests itself as false physical aggression at the sight of a lovely creature. In such cases, we usually say: “So pretty that you want to eat!” This phenomenon (negative emotions with more than positive impressions) is called dimorphic expression. Another example is crying for joy.
“Such a release of feelings, regardless of the context of the situation, is a sign of a strong emotional upheaval,” explains Oriana Aragon, a specialist at Clemson University who studies this phenomenon. – As a rule, people do not tend to express minor excitement so violently. Basically, we react this way when we have intense experiences.”
Although the external signs of behavior can be frightening, it is based on harmless emotions. According to Aragon, those who experience aggressive tenderness develop a passionate desire to protect a child or animal. “It comes from an excess of feelings, and aggression does not mean that we are ready to lash out at someone. We use this word because the physical manifestation looks very similar.
When someone experiences aggressive tenderness, this indicates that his feelings are aggravated to the limit and require immediate discharge.
Why dimorphic expression is needed is not entirely clear, but it is likely that it helps us understand each other.
“Emotions are necessary for communication,” the expert recalls. “It is important for us to maintain social relations, to cooperate, to think about ideas together, to understand other people’s motives, intentions and desires. Much of this is achieved through emotional connections. The richest stock of emotional reactions, accumulated over thousands of years of interaction with each other, serves certain purposes. Probably, these indicators are needed so that we can guess what is on the other person’s mind.
When someone experiences aggressive tenderness, this indicates that his feelings are heightened to the limit. Obviously, in such manifestations of aggression, a specific signal is read: feelings require immediate discharge. Behind these emotions is the desire to jump up and rush forward.
The “aggressor” shows signs of extreme excitement: “… I want to come closer, immediately grab it, squeeze it with all my might, feel that it is mine.” The strong emotions that accompany the phenomenon are caused by the ancient parental instinct. It turns on when we look at any touching cub.
“We see a small creature and find it cute. Following this conclusion, the so-called mechanism of care instantly works. We want to patronize, protect, cherish. Caring for offspring is evolutionarily necessary for the survival of the human species. Since our young remain helpless for a long time, we have developed a corresponding instinct, as irresistible as the need to eat, sleep or have sex. This is one of the basic conditions for survival.”
When we are sad or even cry under the strong impression of touching images, this means that we want to stop for a moment.
The mechanism of care is not only triggered when we see a human baby. Any image that tells us that we have a cub can become a trigger. “If there are childish features in cars — rounded shapes, big headlights, small radiator grilles — people get excited and exclaim: “What a nice car!” Oriana Aragon says
Dimorphic expression can also take other forms, for example, the form of sudden sadness at the sight of something touching. Sadness or pity are almost more common than aggressive tenderness. Usually they talk about the desire to rethink what is happening or enjoy the moment. When we feel sad or even cry under the strong impression of touching images, it means that we want to stop for a moment. Despite the desire to delay the elusive moment or gather our thoughts, in such moments we feel good.
People subject to dimorphic expression are incredibly impressionable in general. “If a person wants to pinch a child’s cheek, he is almost certainly one of those who cry at weddings or cannot help crying when receiving an award. Dimorphic expression is definitely characteristic of enthusiastic natures, ”concludes Aragon. Apparently, they have such a hurricane of emotions raging inside that one overlaps the other.
Source: insider.