Why do we kiss?
In: Biology
A definitive conclusion has not yet been reached on the matter, but several theories have been proposed, which typically fall into two categories:
1. Kissing is an evolved trait. These theories are supported by kissing-like behaviours observed in many mammals, including other primates, which scientists have usually attributed to having grooming purposes. The most common thought on the specific behaviour kissing evolved from is premastication (not to be confused with premasturbation), which is when one animal chews food and then transfers it to the mouth of another animal, usually parent to child. Another theory in the evolutionary vein is that kissing lets us check the quality of our potential mates’ saliva, but frankly I think that’s ridiculous. When was the last time you heard anyone say “Well I knew from tasting his saliva that he must have had dysentery”?
2. Kissing is a learned behaviour. This theory usually either posits that kissing appeared within many different cultures simultaneously early in human history (at least before 3500BC, which is the earliest recorded evidence of a kiss taking place), or that one of the earliest groups of humans invented the cultural trait, which stuck with us through every single human population and migration since then.
Both theories have holes they can’t answer, which is why we don’t have a consensus on it yet. We may never figure it out.
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