Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK
An Indian judge ordered the arrest of actors Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty over a kiss. (STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

In Depth

Senses

Why humans kiss

Last Updated April 26, 2007

An itchy nose probably doesn't mean you are about to kiss a fool. That's just an old saying. But one study did find that, on average, a woman kisses 79 men before finding a husband.

In a lifetime, some people probably spend about the same time kissing as brushing their teeth. Not surprising then that anthropologists suspect smooching is embedded in human nature. In fact, some researchers have determined that the brain has evolved its own special way for detecting a partner's lips when the lights are out.

Primatologist Jane Goodall kissing chimpanzee (Jean-Marc Bouju/ AP Photo)

"We've probably been kissing since the dawn of time," explains Kathryn Denning, a York University anthropology professor. "We know that chimpanzees kiss today, so we can assume our very ancient pre-human ancestors kissed as well."

Kissing cousins

With primates being close relatives to humans, it's safe to say sharing a peck is part of our lineage. Like people, primates don't just nuzzle or sniff, but kiss mouth to mouth. Chimpanzees, and particularly bonobos, exchange big wet kisses when they greet and leave each other. Their ritual is so analogous to the human one that they even kiss to make up after a fight.

Similarly, human kissing can be a relationship barometer. The British Marriage Guidance Bureau found that married couples on the verge of a split kissed less often. They were also more likely to have intercourse than to kiss — an indication the venerable lip-lock might be the most intimate of relationship acts.

So, how did kissing evolve? One anthropological theory pegs it to a mother's mastication of food. Before the invention of processed baby food, mothers would chew food before passing it by mouth to their babies. Some cultures still use this practice, essential during the time after breastfeeding and before a baby cuts teeth.

Anthropologists also think kissing might originate from nuzzling and licking, the same way a dog licks her puppies after birth.

Madonna and Britney Spears 2003 MTV Awards staged kiss (Julie Jacobson/AP Photo)

On the other hand, it just may be linked to our poor sense of smell. What a dog's keen scent detects in a few social sniffs, is next to impossible for a human to sense. People need to get up close and personal to recognize pheromones, the intimate chemicals that some say help in partner selection.

Denning speculates kissing has a long history because people enjoy it. "There are a lot of nerve endings in the lips," she notes, "so it feels good."

A kiss also releases endorphins in the brain that help relieve stress and even depression. During a typical smack, hearts can race to 100 beats a minute, blood pressure jumps, pupils dilate, lips swell and skin blushes.

Cultural and religious differences

While kissing is mostly about intimacy and love, it's also symbolically tied to friendship and respect within cultures and religions, which is the problem actor Richard Gere found himself in when he swept Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty into his arms in Delhi recently.

Some Hindus, including an Indian judge, labelled the televised kiss an act of indecency for its public display of affection. But that shouldn't suggest kissing isn't part of Indian culture. In fact, in 1500 BC, Indians were the first to document the kiss. Four Sanskrit texts recorded nose rubbing as a lovers' gesture.

Kissing might stem from animal behavior.

Then there's the Kama Sutra. By the 6th century AD, the erotic text instructed on three types of kisses, including "touching kissing," to be performed with the tongue.

About 90 percent of the world's cultures engage in the lip variety — but very differently.

"Heterosexual men in America don't usually kiss each other, but it's the norm in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa," says Denning. "In contrast, male and female acquaintances might kiss on the cheek in North America, but this is a grave social offense in some other areas of the world."

From culture to culture, knowing how and when to pucker up can mean the difference between rejection and inclusion. To the Inuit, smell kissing, by rubbing noses, is customary. Certain African tribes literally kiss the ground walked on by their leaders.

In Victorian times, it was the rule in the better social strata for a man to kiss a woman on the hand when greeting. In rural Romania by contrast, a woman today will kiss a strange man's hand as a sign of respect. (Romanians find it rude the other way around.)

Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand in A Star is Born movie poster (Warner Bros./ Getty Images)

As of the 1700s, one of the few cultures not kissing were the people on the South Pacific island of Mangia. They had no knowledge of it before Europeans arrived.

Some places even condemn kissing. In 2005, a proposed Indonesian law would punish a public kiss with a jail sentence or fine. Also, it's only been recently that reserved China and Japan have begun shedding the notion that a public peck is uncouth.

Antiquated kissing laws are still on the books in some American states. A husband can't kiss his wife on Sundays in Hartford, Connecticut, and kissing a stranger is illegal in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The ritual also has religious connotations. In his book Kissing Christians, author Michael Philip Penn explains that, for early Christians, kissing set group boundaries and emphasized a familial relationship between members of the church.

Historically, Christians didn't kiss outside of their religion — they refused to kiss pagans or heretics. Penn also notes that Jews didn't have to kiss as part of their religion.

'Definitely an acceptance thing'

Mary Astor holds record for most kisses in a movie (127) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Psychologists have long associated kissing with acceptance. A Toronto artist tested the limits of this idea when he set about to kiss 100 women in four months as part of an art project. His goal was to experiment with his own social boundaries.

"Before that I was a shy person with girls, and pretty conservative," explains Tim McCready. "Getting somebody to kiss me was definitely an acceptance thing. I'd think, 'Can I get this girl to kiss me?' And the results were surprising."

Kissing close to 130 women, McCready found most women were quite willing to participate, especially once they found out it was for art. The idea was controversial to some, he says, while others found it to be funny and smart.

And what did he learn most about human nature through this experiment? Well, he says, "Kissing is more social than sexual, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything."

Go to the Top

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

updated UN raises fears of civil war in Syria video
Syrian government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday, activists said, as the UN human rights chief raised fears of civil war.
U.S. gets 1st hard look at future China leader
Washington gets its first hard look Tuesday at Xi Jinping, the man destined to lead China in the coming decade, during which the global powers probably will see their economic ties grow.
updated Whitney Houston's funeral to be held Saturday video
Pop star Whitney Houston's funeral service will be held Saturday in the New Jersey church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child.
more »

Canada »

updated Online surveillance bill tabled in House
A bill that is expected to give police and intelligence agencies new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications, sometimes without a warrant, has been tabled in the House of Commons.
Enbridge offered First Nations cash to study pipeline
An aboriginal organization leading the fight to prevent oil tankers on the British Columbia coast once took money from Enbridge Inc., the company hoping to build the pipeline from Alberta to a West Coast port.
Man kidnapped at Greyhound station escapes captors
Two Thunder Bay, Ont., men face charges following a kidnapping in which a man was dragged from a Greyhound bus terminal and forced into a vehicle, police say.
more »

Politics »

new Fantino says Canada's F-35 jet purchase 'evolving' video
Canada's minister responsible for military procurement now appears open to adjusting the Defence Department's order for F-35 fighter jets, citing an economic environment "we may not have any control over."
new Canadian Forces to open support hub in Germany
Defence Minister Peter MacKay has announced that a new operational support hub for the Canadian Forces will be set up in Germany.
new Amend copyright bill to end radio 'subsidy,' groups urge
Musicians and record labels want the federal government to amend its copyright reform act to end a break for commercial radio stations that reduces royalty payments to artists.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

updated Whitney Houston's funeral to be held Saturday video
Pop star Whitney Houston's funeral service will be held Saturday in the New Jersey church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child.
Famed romance began with exchange of letters
The 573 love letters exchanged between Elizabeth Barrett and her future husband, fellow poet Robert Browning, are now viewable online.
new Amend copyright bill to end radio 'subsidy,' groups urge
Musicians and record labels want the federal government to amend its copyright reform act to end a break for commercial radio stations that reduces royalty payments to artists.
more »

Technology & Science »

updated Online surveillance bill tabled in House
A bill that is expected to give police and intelligence agencies new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications, sometimes without a warrant, has been tabled in the House of Commons.
Higgs boson hunt aided by energy boost
The world's largest particle accelerator is ramping up its beam energy in hopes that scientists will learn definitively this year whether the last undiscovered particle in the Standard Model of Physics exists.
new Nortel hit by suspected Chinese cyberattacks for a decade
Hackers based in China enjoyed widespread access to Nortel's computer network for nearly a decade, according to a report.
more »

Money »

Raitt offers new mediator in Air Canada dispute
Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is again intervening in a labour dispute at Air Canada, initiating a six-month mediation process after telling pilots and the company that any work stoppage would be contrary to the interests of Canadians.
new Nortel hit by suspected Chinese cyberattacks for a decade
Hackers based in China enjoyed widespread access to Nortel's computer network for nearly a decade, according to a report.
Greek economy shrinks 7% in fourth quarter
The Greek economy remained stuck in a deep recession in the fourth quarter, according to official figures released Tuesday that confirm the painful effects of austerity reforms intended to lower debt.
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

preview Flames, Leafs hungry for playoff spots
The Calgary Flames are still out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference, but they're making a strong push to be among the top eight teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs might fall out of the race in the East if they don't improve their play.
Athletes and Valentine's Day
The writers here at CBCSports.ca wanted to spread some love on this special day, so with the help of Twitter we've constructed a very special Valentine's Day card for sports fans everywhere.
Bruins goalie Thomas posts Coolidge quote to Facebook
Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas posted a quote from former U.S. president Calvin Coolidge on his Facebook page Monday, the latest in a string of messages that have brought attention to him.
more »

Diversions »

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
more »