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1-Page Summary of The Science of Kissing
Overview
Kissing is a very important part of romantic relationships. We see it in movies all the time, and we can’t imagine them without those scenes.
But, as you will learn from these key points, it’s not only about the physical act of kissing. It also fulfills a variety of functions for humans and our community – even porcupines kiss! These key points bring up-to-date science on kissing and its positive effects on our brain and health.
In this passage, you’ll find out why people use an “X” to mean a kiss in texts and online chat. You’ll also learn about the connection between kissing and cocaine, as well as how a genetic test can be done with just one kiss.
Big Idea #1: We learn to associate lip contact with love and trust early on in life.
Kissing is a universal phenomenon that most people enjoy. However, we rarely stop to ponder why it’s so popular. The answer lies in our biology.
One of the first things we enjoy is being nursed by our mothers. This comes naturally to us and it’s something that babies do in the womb and as soon as they’re born, even before they can talk. They purse their lips for nursing just like they would when kissing someone.
Nursing is very comforting for a baby. It usually takes place in a safe and calm environment, so the baby grows to associate soft pressure on the lips with feeling secure and loved. Premastication, the process of feeding mouth-to-mouth, was the most practical way to feed babies and toddlers for thousands of years, which also biologically linked positive feelings with lip contact.
Premastication might sound gross, but it’s a natural way to transition out of breast-feeding. Other animals like apes and birds use premastication too. In fact, there are some modern communities that still practice this method as part of a ritual or for health reasons. The first known written records date back to ancient Egypt, and one study found that 39 out of 119 modern communities investigated still use premastication for feeding.
Premastication helps babies feel more secure, and it also transfers the positive association of mouth-to-breast contact to mouth-to-mouth contact. This strengthens the emotional foundation for kissing that develops later in life. Kissing is also about feeling love, as you’ll learn next!
Big Idea #2: Kiss-like behaviors serve multiple social purposes in both humans and animals.
A lot of people don’t know why the letter “x” is used to represent kissing. The reason is historical.
Throughout history, humans have used kissing for many different purposes. In the Middle Ages, it was often used to seal a contract. One way they did this was by marking an “x” on the spot where people were supposed to kiss each other as part of the agreement. People also marked social status with kisses during that time period. A person’s social status determined where they would kiss someone when greeting them. For example, if you greeted a priest in medieval times, you would kiss his robe; if you greeted the Pope, you would kiss his ring or slippers. People sometimes even kissed the ground when greeting a king.
In the animal kingdom, many species kiss one another. Animals such as ground squirrels rub their noses together, moles nuzzle each other and porcupines caress one another with their quills. Bonobos are our closest relatives in the animal world, and they also kiss like we do.
Kissing is a way for animals to communicate with each other and strengthen their relationships. Animals use different methods of kissing, but they all involve coming into close contact with one another and exchanging information about taste, touch, smell, etc.
