Lip-on-lip kissing, a seemingly universal gesture of intimacy, is surprisingly not practiced in every culture across the globe. This raises an intriguing question: why do humans kiss, and what does this act reveal about our needs for connection and communication? Exploring the diverse ways humans express affection through kissing can offer insights into the fundamental importance of this intimate behavior.
Kissing is Not a Universal Human Behavior
While often portrayed as a ubiquitous expression of love and romance, lip-to-lip kissing is far from universal. A comprehensive study examining 168 different cultures worldwide revealed that less than half, specifically only 46%, engage in romantic lip-on-lip kissing. This research, conducted by William Jankowiak, an anthropology professor, highlights that romantic kissing is a culturally specific behavior rather than a universal human instinct. It’s important to note that this study focused on romantic kissing and excluded other forms of kissing, such as parental affection or greetings. This finding challenges the assumption that kissing is an inherent part of human relationships and suggests that its significance and practice are deeply rooted in cultural norms.
Theories Rooted in Infancy: Breastfeeding and Premastication
Two prominent theories attempt to explain the origins of kissing by linking it to innate infant reflexes and early bonding experiences. One theory proposes that our inclination for lip touching stems from the association with breastfeeding. As infants, we instinctively seek lip contact for nourishment, and this pleasurable sensation might be carried into adulthood and associated with comfort and intimacy.
Another compelling theory centers around “premastication food transfer,” a practice observed in some primates and potentially in human ancestors. This involves mothers pre-chewing food for their young and transferring it mouth-to-mouth. This intimate act, seen in chimpanzees and other great apes, could have fostered a strong bond between mother and child through lip contact. This early association of lip touching with care, nourishment, and bonding may have evolved into the romantic and social kissing we know today.
Beyond Lip-on-Lip Kissing: Diverse Cultural Expressions of Intimacy
For cultures that do not practice lip-on-lip kissing, intimacy is expressed in various other sensory and affectionate ways. Sheril Kirshenbaum, an author who studies human behavior, points to the “Malay kiss” described by Darwin. This involves a form of sniffing where women squat and men lean over to inhale their partner’s scent. This olfactory intimacy provides a different form of connection and information exchange compared to lip kissing.
On the Trobriand Islands, an alternative kissing practice involves lovers gently nibbling each other’s eyelashes. While this may seem unconventional to those accustomed to lip-on-lip kissing, it serves the same purpose of intimate connection and affection within their cultural context. These examples illustrate that the core function of kissing, regardless of its specific form, is to facilitate a close, intimate exchange and sharing of personal information.
The Evolutionary Angle: Scent and Information Exchange
From an evolutionary perspective, kissing, particularly face-to-face proximity, may have developed as a way to enhance our sense of smell and gather crucial information about a potential partner. Scent can reveal a wealth of details, including diet, health status, mood, and even genetic compatibility. While humans have a less developed sense of smell compared to many animals, close facial contact during kissing allows for the subtle detection of pheromones and other olfactory cues.
Melissa Hogenboom, writing for BBC Earth, suggests that the need to “sniff” a partner closely might be a driving factor behind the evolution of kissing. Animals with more acute senses of smell may not require such close physical proximity to gather the same information, which could explain why lip-on-lip kissing is not widely observed in the animal kingdom. This highlights the idea that kissing may have evolved, in part, as a uniquely human way to utilize our senses for mate selection and social bonding.
Conclusion: Kissing as a Multifaceted Expression of Human Connection
In conclusion, the reasons behind why people kiss are multifaceted, encompassing cultural, biological, and evolutionary factors. While not a universal behavior, kissing in its various forms serves as a powerful tool for intimacy, communication, and information exchange. From potential links to infant feeding reflexes and bonding to the importance of scent in mate selection, kissing represents a complex and fascinating aspect of human social behavior. Understanding the diverse expressions of kissing across cultures and the potential evolutionary roots of this act deepens our appreciation for its significance in human connection and relationships.
