In a recently published article, Susan M. Hughes, Marissa A. Harrison, and Gordon G. Gallup, Jr. surveyed 1,041 students (using three different questionnaires) about their attitudes to kissing (journal of Evolutionary Psychology [5(3):612-631, 2007]). The study found only five people who had never experienced romantic kissing, and more than 200 who estimated having kissed 21 or more partners.

According to the study, kissing between sexual or romantic partners occurs in over 90% of human cultures, and even some non-human animals, such as Bonobos appear to engage in kissing-like behaviours, blowing in each other’s faces, licking, sucking or rubbing their partner’s faces before sex.

Many of the responses to the surveys were predictable: women, for example, placed more emotional importance on a kiss, valuing kisses during and after sex, and continuing throughout a relationship; whilst men tended to see kissing as a means to obtain sex or initiate reconciliation; and placed less importance on kissing throughout the progression of a relationship.

In contrast, females kissed to establish and monitor the status of their relationship, and to periodically gauge the level of commitment of a partner.

Slightly over half the men claimed they would have sex with someone without kissing, compared to just fifteen percent of the women. Men were also more likely to claim that a “good kiss” was one with tongue contact, where ‘my partner makes little moaning noises’.

In separate research, another survey (Gallup, 2007) revealed that 59% of male respondents and 66% of female respondents had found themselves interested in someone, only to discover that they were no longer attracted after they’d kissed them for the first time.

The researchers therefore speculate that the exchange of saliva during kissing may have biological consequences, since male saliva contains measurable amounts of testosterone, which could affect libido. And, since males have reduced chemosensory detection compared to females, they may require greater salivary exchange in order to respond to the various components in a female’s saliva.

Dr. Gallup said:

The complicated exchange of information that occurs during a kiss may inform evolved, unconscious mechanisms about instances of possible genetic incompatibility.

In other words, while many forces lead two people to connect romantically, the kiss, particularly the first kiss, can be a deal breaker.

The researchers concluded that the study provides evidence that romantic kissing evolved as an adaptive courtship strategy that functions as a mate-assessment technique, a means of initiating sexual arousal and receptivity, and also as a way of unconsciously maintaining a bonded relationship.

The full paper can be found here; and I’m grateful to Oliver, for drawing my attention to this research.

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Posted by Jonathan in Biochemistry, Sociobiology

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