A study from the University of Oxford suggests that it helps us choose a partner and then keep it by our side.
What's behind a kiss? A study by the University of Oxford suggests that this physical expression of romantic feeling helps us evaluate the suitability of a suitor and, once paired, can be a way to keep it by our side.
«Kissing in human sexual relationships it is very frequent in diverse forms in almost all the society and cultures », assures Rafael Wlodarski, the student of doctorate in Philosophy that carried out the investigation in the Department of Experimental Psychology of the University of Oxford. "Kisses are also seen in the relationships of our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, but it is much less intense and less common," recalls the researcher, who with his study wanted to discover why this behavior of human courtship is so extended and what is its purpose.
To find out, Wlodarski and Professor Robin Dunbar conducted an online questionnaire to 900 adults, who answered questions about the importance of kissing in short and long term relationships. "There are three theories about the role of be sos in sexual relationships: that somehow help to evaluate the genetic quality of potential partners, which are used to increase excitement (to initiate sex, for example); and that are useful for maintaining relationships. We wanted to see which of these theories was kept under closer scrutiny, "explains Wlodarski.
The results of the study, published in" Archives of Sexual Behavior "and in" Human Nature ", show that women considered the most important kisses. in relationships than men. In addition, men and women who considered themselves attractive, or who used to have more fleeting relationships and casual encounters, also rated kisses as more important.
Previous research has shown that women are more selective when they choose a partner as well as those who feel attractive or have more sexual partners. And it is precisely these groups that tend to value the kisses more in the responses of the survey, which suggests that kissing helps unconsciously assess potential partners through taste or smell. This gives biological clues for compatibility, genetic fitness or general health.
"The choice of partner and courtship in humans is complex. It involves a series of evaluation periods where people ask themselves: "Should I deepen this relationship?", Says Professor Robin Dunbar, who adds: "Evaluations become more and more intimate as we go deeper into the courtship, and This is where kisses come into play. "
Kiss, important in long relationships
Researchers discovered that the importance of kissing changed for people depending on whether they were in a long or short relationship. Specifically, for women, this gesture was more important in long-term relationships, suggesting that kissing also plays an important role in attachment between stable partners.
Although the excitement may be a consequence of the kiss, Researchers believe that it is not a determining factor that explains why we kiss in romantic relationships. In fact, in short relationships, participants said that kissing was more important before sex, but not so much later or at other times. However, in stable relationships, kissing was just as important before sex as at other times of the day.
Frequent kissing in a relationship, without the need for more sex, was related to the quality of the relationship. The menstrual cycle also seems to influence the attitude of women towards romantic kisses, so that they valued this gesture more when they were at the most fertile moment of the cycle.
Source: http: // www. abc.es/sociedad/20131012/abci-porque-besamos-201310111322.html
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