Kissing is as normal a part of people’s lives as anything else that gives them joy and pleasure but have you wondered why people do it? What is the science behind it, what hormones lead to it or if its a sort of chemical attraction? Well, people kiss for all reasons. To express love, to greet or to bid adieu and most importantly, to feel good. Here are all the scientific reasons why people indulge in kissing. 

While the approach is subjective, some scientists believe that kissing is a learned behaviour. This theory comes from the fact that 10% of the human population does not kiss at all! And even less is the number of people who indulge in kissing romantically. While there is also a group of scientists that says it is entirely based on human instincts and deep-rooted in biology.

Here are the scientific reasons that might be why people kiss.

1. Attachment

Kissing causes chemical reactions in the brain that assist the release of oxytocin that causes feelings like attachment and love to come forth. Often referred to as the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin is important to help men bond with a partner and stay monogamous. 

While men have the highest level of oxytocin while making love to their partner, women experience the highest levels during childbirth and breast-feeding. This is one of the reasons why the mother and child bond is unbreakable.

Several people believe that kissing originated from the practice of kiss-feeding.  Just like birds feed worms to their little ones, humans used to (and some still do it) feed their children their chewed up food.  

2. Romance

Know that feeling when you’re high on new love and all you want to do is stay with your partner all time, every day?  Well, that is because the brain continuously releases dopamine to make you feel over the top and loved. 

The happy hormones in a body make you feel giddy and in love and you can never have enough of them. You want more and more of these to stay high on romance and that is one of the important reasons why people kiss. 

A 2013 study suggests that couples in long-term relationships who kissed each other frequently said to have increased relationship satisfaction.

3. Sex Drive

There is no hiding the fact that most kisses are because of an increased sex drive and have nothing to do with platonic feelings.

An old research says that for women, kissing is how they size up a potential mate. 

Females that took part in the research said they were not likely to have sex with someone without kissing first. They also mentioned the fact that how well someone kisses can hugely affect their partner’s chances of “doing it”.

4. To feel good

People kiss to feel good and sometimes that’s just the bottom line. Kissing has benefits like strengthening bonds and helping people stay connected. 

Along with the oxytocin and dopamine that make you feel great and euphoric, smooching releases serotonin.

Serotonin is another feel-good chemical that helps lowering cortisol levels so that people feel more relaxed, making for a good time all around.

However, not all people are fans of kissing and no matter how close you are, consent is mandatory. It is also necessary to have a great oral hygiene so that you do not gross your partner out.