Why are we kissing? How did lips become a part of sexuality? Is it welcome in every culture? When we examine the science and history of kissing, we find surprising answers to these questions.
In modern culture, kissing on the lips is an expression of love. But why do we especially prefer mouth and lip? Why instead of our cheeks or ears Didn’t we prefer the act of rubbing against each other?
In order to comment on these, it is necessary to go back a long way in human history. both biologists as well as anthropologists He has some pretty surprising ideas on this subject.
While kissing is common among people, it is not universal and may not be welcome in some cultures.
After the announcement of “Dear passengers, please act in accordance with the ethical rules” was made at the Kurtuluş metro stop in Ankara in 2013, the couples gathered at the metro station to protest this situation by kissing.
About 10% of the world’s population, because they find it disgusting or in various for superstitious reasons He doesn’t like to kiss. For example, in some parts of Sudan the mouth is believed to be the gateway to the soul; Therefore, there is a superstition that kissing invites death.
There is also the issue of who can kiss in some Muslim-majority societies governed by religious law. There are taboos. In such countries, a man who kisses or touches an unrelated woman can be flogged and imprisoned. Of course, this does not mean that the majority of the people in that country view kissing in this way. A segment with power may try to impose this idea on everyone.
Anthropologists and biologists have yet to come to a conclusion as to whether kissing is a learned or instinctive behavior.
Studies on the science of kissing first began in the 19th century, and Cesare Lombroso, Ernest Crawley, Charles Darwinhas been studied by modern scientists such as Edward Burnett Tylor and Elaine Hatfield.
Some scientists believe that many mammals chew hard foods to feed their young and then give them to their young. mouth-to-mouth feeding He defends the view that kissing is the reason.
Therefore, kissing is believed to be instinctive and intuitive, evolving from behaviors such as sucking or prior chewing. The health of the kissing partner controlling their saliva It is also thought to be an evolved behavior. Some scientists insist that it is a learned behavior.
The behavior of mothers to feed previously chewed foods to babies with their mouths is not unique to humans.
It is a behavior seen in other animals as well. Besides this act, kissing is not only not specific to humansKissing has also been observed in non-human primates. Dogs, cats, birds, and other animals exhibit licking, nose-touching behavior among themselves and also towards humans or other species. Even snails and insects by touching their antennae they flirt. These behaviors are interpreted by observers as a kind of kissing.
The first written evidence of loving mouth-to-mouth kissing is found in Sanskrit scriptures written around 1500 BC.
These scriptures were the foundation of the religion of Hinduism. Afterward, kissing continued to appear in ancient Indian and Hindu literature. In the Mahabharata, a Sanskrit epic compiled in the 4th century AD, one “he puts my mouth in my mouth and makes a sound that gives me pleasure” has text. There are also sections in the Kama Sutra that describe different ways of kissing and sex. “Kama” means pleasure, “sutra” means book.
Anthropologist Vaughn Bryant argues that kissing began after Alexander the Great conquered Punjab in northern India in 326 BC. spread from India to Europe suggests. So while evolution has had an effect, the widespread spread of kissing seems to have come from this region.
Although kissing may seem like a simple act, it works 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles in total.
The most important muscle in this action is the muscle used to contract the lips and “kissing muscle” Also known as the “orbicularis oris” muscle. In French kissing, the number of working muscles also increases, as the tongue for action is also the beach. In addition, the lips have a large number of nerve endings that are sensitive to touch and bite.
Kissing increases the production of feel-good hormones.
Creating the feeling of love oxytocinresponsible for the feeling of happiness endorphins and stimulating the pleasure center in the brain dopamine Thanks to regular kissing, it protects against depression.
love in general stress reliever has effects. In an experiment examining kissing, it was found that more frequent kissing by couples reduced stress and lowered cholesterol levels.
In summary; lots of kisses…
Sources: 1, 2, 3
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