55 Times People Had No Idea What Their Cookie Cutter Was Supposed To Be And The Internet Had Ideas (New Pics)

The cookie cutters on this subreddit feature shapes that let the imagination flow freely. But the human brain is actually programmed to see specific patterns in everyday objects. 

This phenomenon is called pareidolia, in which we see faces in inanimate objects. For example, you may see a smiling face on a cloud, or a fruit grimacing in pain.

So, what is the scientific explanation behind pareidolia? According to researcher Dr. Colin Palmer, part of it is repeated exposure to faces locked in a certain expression. 

“If you are repeatedly shown pictures of faces that are looking towards your left, for example, your perception will actually change over time so that the faces will appear to be looking more rightwards than they really are,” he said in an interview with UNSW Sydney.

Dr. Palmer explained that face pareidolia is not only a product of our evolution but may also confer an advantage, especially in social settings. 

“There is an evolutionary advantage to being really good or really efficient at detecting faces; it's important to us socially. It's also important in detecting predators,” he explained. 

Pattern recognition also goes hand in hand with creativity. Looking at these photos with the question of, “What are these cookie cutters for?” makes you rack your brain to find their different uses in the most visually appealing and out-of-the-box ways. 

According to the American Psychological Association, the ambiguity in these images encourages creativity, offering endless possibilities.

The APA further notes that researchers measure divergent thinking as a marker of creativity. In a nutshell, it is the ability to generate potential solutions to a problem or question. 

“Creativity involves an honest expression,” said cognitive psychologist Southern Oregon University director Dr. Mark Runco.