Evolutionary Psychologist - Why Do Humans Kiss? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Kissing serves as a way to exchange information about one's immune system and genetic compatibility, making it an important aspect of courtship.

Key Insights

• 😘 Kissing involves the exchange of chemicals and bacteria that provide information about an individual's immune system.
• 😘 Courtship is a step-by-step process that starts with visual cues and progresses to physical contact, including kissing.
• ❓ Optimal inbreeding or outbreeding is sought after to maintain diversity in the immune system.
• 👃 Perfume is used to exaggerate an individual's natural smell, which is an important aspect of courtship.
• 🖐️ Smelling plays a crucial role in assessing immune system compatibility.
• 😤 Different cultures have their own ways of exchanging scents, such as nose rubbing.
• 👃 Babies instinctively sniff and are recognized through smell alone by their mothers.

Transcript

one of the things that i thought was fascinating that you looked at was uh kissing the use of human kissing what's what's the explanation for that uh it it's one of those things again for which there is never been really a satisfactory explanation one of the interesting things about kissing though is in mouth to mouth kissing i mean not all culture... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is kissing considered important in courtship?

Kissing allows individuals to exchange information about their immune systems and genetic compatibility, providing a measure of potential mate quality.

Q: Is kissing a universal behavior?

While not all cultures engage in mouth-to-mouth kissing, it is considered as close to universal as anything, with large numbers of cultures practicing it.

Q: How does kissing relate to physical attraction?

Initial visual cues play a role in courtship, but physical contact through kissing helps assess compatibility on a deeper level, including immune system compatibility.

Q: What role does smelling play in courtship?

Smelling someone helps evaluate their immune system, as the genes determining smell are also linked to the immune system. It helps determine if there is diversity for optimal immune system functioning.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kissing involves the exchange of tens of billions of chemicals and bacteria, providing a direct measure of the quality of one's immune system.

• Courtship is a process of assessment, starting with visual cues and conversation, and progressing to physical contact and kissing.

• Optimal inbreeding or outbreeding is sought after, where individuals look for partners who resemble them physically to maintain a good combination of genes.