Why Do We Kiss? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Kissing has a long history, with its origins possibly in regurgitation feeding and is both instinctual and learned. Kissing releases feel-good hormones, has health benefits, and helps with mate selection.

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Kissing has a long history, with the earliest recorded reference dating back to 1500 BC in India.
• 😘 The spread of kissing can be attributed to Alexander the Great's army, and it later became a display of deference in Ancient Greece and Rome.
• 🛟 Kissing serves various purposes, including ritual, friendship, comfort, and passion.
• 😘 Some cultures do not engage in kissing, indicating that it may be a learned behavior rather than instinctual.
• 🤱 Kissing may have evolved from regurgitation feeding, which helped establish bonding and intimacy.
• 😘 Kissing releases feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and oxytocin, which can result in increased pleasure and bonding.
• 🥰 Kissing has physiological effects, including increased heart rate, flushed cheeks, and dilation of pupils.

Transcript

On valentine's day 2013, a Thai couple broke the world record for longest kiss, when they sucked face for over 58 hours. 58 hours! Wo-how?! You could drive across the entire United States in less time! These lovebirds couldn't even sit down that whole time, and had to pee while kissing. The logistics of which I don't want to think about. Still, got... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the earliest recorded reference to kissing?

The earliest recorded reference to kissing is from a Sanskrit text in India dating back to 1500 BC. However, it is likely that people were engaging in kissing before that time.

Q: Are there cultures that do not engage in kissing?

Yes, approximately ten percent of human cultures do not engage in kissing, or at least did not until relatively recently. Some tribes in Africa, Australian Aborigines, and Tahitians are among those groups.

Q: What are the two theories regarding the origin of kissing?

The two theories are the instinctual theory and the learned behavior theory. The instinctual theory suggests that kissing is innate, while the learned behavior theory suggests that it evolved from regurgitation feeding.

Q: What are the physiological effects of kissing?

Kissing stimulates sensitive nerve endings in the lips and tongue, leading to the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and adrenaline. This can result in increased heart rate, flushed cheeks, and a pleasurable sensation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kissing has been practiced for thousands of years, with the earliest recorded reference from a Sanskrit text in India dating back to 1500 BC.

• The spread of kissing can be attributed to Alexander the Great's army, with it later becoming a display of deference in Ancient Greece and Rome.

• Kissing serves various purposes, including ritual, friendship, comfort, and passion.