Do you really know? Why do we kiss?
Jun 30, 2025
Kissing may feel instinctive, but it's not a universal practice across cultures. Discover its intriguing origins, tracing back to ancient texts from India's Vedas around 1500 BCE. The podcast explores kissing's significance as a symbol of love and passion. Dive into the biological aspects, revealing how it might connect to bonding and attraction through our neurochemicals. You'll learn why this act is not just a romantic gesture but a deep-rooted human behavior.
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Kissing's Ancient Origins and Effects
- Kissing appears in ancient texts dating back to 2500 BCE, showing it is one of the oldest human gestures.
- It stimulates brain chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin, boosting pleasure and emotional connection.
Kissing Isn't Universal
- Only 46% of world cultures associate kissing with romance or sex, so it’s not universal.
- Hunter-gatherer societies mostly lack romantic kissing, except Inuit use nose and lip pressing.
Kissing's Evolutionary Roots
- Kissing may have evolved from ancestral caregiving behaviors like pre-chewing food for infants.
- This early nurturing contact likely created positive associations that became romantic kissing.