How did the kiss come about? A team from the University of Warwick (England) suggests that human kissing evolved from grooming behaviors observed in great ape ancestors.
In a study published in Evolutionary Anthropologyresearchers introduce the “caregiver’s last kiss hypothesis.” Understanding the moment and context in which the kiss takes place involves knowledge of cultural conventions and historical context. Societies have long dictated the rules regarding who can kiss, where, when and how. So how did the kiss come about?
In ancient Rome, different types of kisses had unique names and meanings depending on the relationship between the individuals. There were osculum, a kiss on the cheek; basium, a kiss on the lips without sexual intent; and savium, for the erotic kiss.
Kissing the ring, hand or foot as a sign of respect, along with ceremonial and religious kisses, have a long history. Traditions include the wedding kiss, the anniversary kiss, the New Year’s kiss, the kiss under the mistletoe, or the kiss for good luck.
Kissing customs vary significantly from one culture to another. In some parts of Europe, two kisses on the cheeks are a standard form of greeting, while in other parts three are required. In Belgium, for example, only one is offered, writes Phys.org.
These kisses usually take place between people of different genders or between women, while European men limit kissing other men to close relatives. In Oman, a handshake between men may be followed by a short kiss on the nose.
How did the kiss come about?
Kissing is a versatile method of expressing affection, intimacy, or social bonding in a well-regulated way, but how kissing originated is still debated. Some studies suggest that kissing arose from maternal care behaviors such as nursing or feeding infants previously chewed food. Other hypotheses believe that the kiss could be a compatibility test, a subtle means of assessing genetic health through smell or taste.
When looking for similar behaviors in the animal world, finding actions comparable to human kissing is difficult. Although many animals rub noses together, the only non-human beings known to kiss are our closest evolutionary cousins, chimpanzees and bonobos.
Adriano R. Lameira, from Warwick University’s Department of Psychology, led a comprehensive review of existing hypotheses to explore the evolutionary roots of this intimate behaviour, noting that grooming is an essential means of establishing and maintaining social bonds in ape social structures increase.
Assuming that ape ancestors practiced grooming in this way, it would have been a fundamental part of our early culture. As humans evolved and lost body hair, the need for extensive grooming decreased and grooming sessions became shorter. Although the need for “fur cleaning” disappeared, the socializing aspect remained important.
What was the real purpose of the monkey kissing gesture?
According to the study, the final act of grooming in the monkeys involves lip protrusion and gentle suction to remove debris or parasites, a behavior that persisted even after its hygienic function declined. This vestigial action, which the researchers termed the “groomer’s last kiss hypothesis,” reflects the form, context, and function of the modern human kiss.
By comparing the grooming behaviors of primate species to those of human societies, the research supports the idea that kissing serves as a symbolic gesture to signal and strengthen social and kinship bonds. Other non-great ape primates perform social bonding activities, but they are different. For example, capuchin monkeys demonstrate their social connection by poking their fingers into the eyes and nostrils of those close to them.
To test the hypothesis, the researchers recommend that future studies focus on detailed descriptions of grooming behaviors in great apes. By examining grooming patterns as a function of fur thickness, additional insights into the evolutionary trajectory of kissing from the perspective of the “groomer’s last kiss hypothesis” can be gained.
Sticking your fingers into a colleague’s eyes and nostrils would seem inappropriate as a human greeting, although it is completely normal for a capuchin monkey. A 2015 study published in American Anthropologistanalyzed 168 cultures and found that only 46% of them practiced romantic kissing. Most indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures do not practice any kind of kissing. Some even find the act disgusting. Western ethnocentrism perceives kissing as universal human behavior, but for many cultures, kissing is as strange as sticking a finger in someone’s nose.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
