Kissing is a fascinating topic. Its scientific name is:
Osculation (ä-skyə-ˈlā-shən).The act of kissing. From the Latin term, “osculari,” meaning to kiss.
The ancient Romans identified three types of kissing. The oscula for friendship, the bastia for love, and the suavia for passion (Sims, 2003). They noticed that a kiss may be given in different ways and with different intentions. Affection exchange theory states that humans express care for one another express their affection to enhance pair bonding, sexual reproduction, and personal well-being. Previous studies indicate that affectionate behavior reduces stress (Floyd et al., 2009).
So kissing fulfills several crucial functions: social communication, relationship building, sexual activity, personal gratification, and stress reduction. And, surprisingly, it has been found to reduce cholesterol.
There has not been a lot of research into romantic kissing, but what does exist suggests that kissing activates several physiological responses related to the parasympathetic system including the nervous and hormonal systems while ensuring the exchange of saliva. Physically affectionate actions in sexual relationships such as hand-holding and cuddling lowers blood pressure by reducing cortisol (Grewen et al., 2005; Light, Grewen, & Amico, 2005), as well as raising skin temperature (Rubinsky et al., 1985; Seeley et al., 1980). Given the physiological arousal and thermal increase there is also an increase in sweating. Body sweat contains an excretion known as sebum which is an oily substance composed of lipids and cellular rubbish pumped out by the sebaceous glands found in the roots of all hairs. The purpose of the oil glands is to moisturize the skin and lubricate the hair. Sebaceous glands are found in the skins of humans more so than any other primate or mammal (Montagna & Parakkal, 1974). Some researchers speculate that sebum contains a pheromone which may play a role in feelings of attachment and bonding, both between sexual partners and between parents and children, which would partially explain the near universality of kissing as an expression of affection (Nicholson, 2011). It is logical to speculate that kissing induces the same or a similar physiological response pattern.
Kissing, A Stress Reduction Technique?
One 6-week trial of test subjects who were to increase their kissing activity yielded a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol and stress along with a statistically significant increase in relationship satisfaction not realized by their control group counterparts (Floyd et al., 2009). The researchers conducting this study conclude that the parasympathetic effects of kissing in emotionally-healthy relationships helps improve physical, psychological, and relational well-being. Kissing is commonly prescribed as a therapeutic intervention in couples therapy to increase relational satisfaction (Brezsnyak & Whisman, 2004; Floyd et al., 2009).
Osculatory Outcomes
Besides emotional health and mate assessment, kissing yields other results as well. Quality of kissing in couples is related to sexual satisfaction in men and emotional satisfaction in women. Closed mouth kissing is related to emotional intimacy and resolving conflicts while open mouth kissing with tongue contact is related to sexual arousal (Spaulding, 2017). Males were more likely to initiate kissing before sex, and females after sex (Hughes, 2011). Males place less importance on kissing in short-term relationships and tend to use it to promote the likelihood of having sex. Women tend to use kissing as way of evaluating the current status of the relationship and to maintain it (Hughes, Harrison, & Gallup, 2007; Wolodarski, 2014).
Closing Thoughts
As I said at the beginning, kissing is a fascinating topic. And, while the “romantic-sexual kiss” is not a universal practice around the world—practiced by only 46 percent of the 168 total cultures surveyed by Jankowiak, Volsche, & Garcia (2015)—it remains an essential component of being human. That kissing arouses and sedates at the same time depending on the context of physical contact is an interesting finding. But the health benefits are a surprise. Highly affectionate adults report less stress, less depression, better well-being, and more sexual satisfaction than those who are not as affectionate (Floyd, 2002) and then there is the cholesterol reduction side effect.
Let the osculation begin!
Paul Shane, Ph.D., LMT
Director, Academic Content
References
Brezsnyak, M. & Whisman, M. (2004). Sexual desire and relationship functioning: The effects of marital satisfaction and power. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy 30(3), p. 199–217.
Floyd, K. (2002). Human affection exchange: V. Attributes of the highly affectionate. Communication Quarterly 50(2), p. 135-152.
Floyd, K., Boren, J., Hannawa, A., Hesse, C., McEwan, B., & Veksler, A. (2009). Kissing in marital and cohabiting relationships: Effects on blood lipids, stress, and relationship satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication 73(2), p. 113-133.
Grewen, K., Girdler, S., Amico, J., & Light, K. (2005). Effects of partner support on resting oxytocin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and blood pressure before and after warm partner contact. Psychosomatic Medicine 67(4), p. 531-538.
Hughes, S. (2011). Sex differences in post-coital behaviors in long- and short-term mating: An evolutionary perspective. Journal of Sex Research 48(5), p. 496-505.
Hughes, S., Harrison, M., & Gallup, G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. Evolutionary Psychology 5(3), p. 612-631.
Jankowiak, W., Volsche, S., & Garcia, J. (2015). Is the romantic-sexual kiss a near human universal? American Anthropologist 117(3), p. 535-539.
Light, K., Grewen, K., & Amico, J. (2005) More frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood Pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Biological Psychology 69, p. 5-21.
Montagna, W. & Parakhal, P. (1974). The Structure and Function of Skin. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.
Nicholson, B. (1984). Exocrinology: The Science of Love: Human Pheromones in Criminology, Psychiatry, and Medicine. Tampa, FL: Nicholson Science.
Rubinsky, H., Hoon, P., Eckerman, D., & Amberson, J. (1985). Groin skin temperature: Testing the validity of a relatively unobtrusive physiological measure of psychosexual arousal. Psychophysiology 22(4), p. 488-492.
Seeley, T., Abramson, P., Perry, L., Rothblatt, A., & Masters, D. (1980). Thermographic measurement of sexual arousal: A methodological note. Archives of Sexual Behavior 9, p. 77-85.
Sims, M. (2003). Adam’s Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Form. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Spaulding, K. (2017). What’s in a kiss? The role of kissing in romantic relationships. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY.
Wlodarski, R. (2014). What’s in a kiss? The effect of romantic kissing on mating desirability. Evolutionary Psychology 12(1), p. 178-199.