Vitamin G

Why Women And Men Kiss Differently (Who Knew?)

So you know that researchers theorize that pretty much everything we do, relationship-wise, is biologically based. And kissing is no exception. In fact, a new book says that men and women kiss very differently for different reasons...

So you know that researchers theorize that pretty much everything we do, relationship-wise, is biologically based. And kissing is no exception. In fact, a new book says that men and women kiss very differently for different reasons...

This article in TIME talks about a new book called* The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us*, which says that kssing apparently boosts levels of neurotransmitters such as "dopamine (which is involved in craving and desire) and serotonin (which elevates mood and can help spark obsessive thoughts about a partner). It also causes a jump in oxytocin, the so-called "love hormone."

And kissing is so important to us, shows the research, that "59% of men and 66% of women say they have ended a budding relationship because of a bad kiss."

Apparently even this goes back to biology--when we kiss, our sense of smell picks up on clues about the other person's DNA to help figure out if his genetic code would produce genetically diverse children.

So here are a few ways men and women smooch differently, according to researchers--and speculation as to why:

Women:

  • More likely to insist on kissing before, during and after sex.

  • Use kissing throughout the relationship to continually evaluate the state of the relationship.

Men:

  • More likely to prefer a French kiss. The theory? Men have small amounts of testosterone in their saliva, which, after awhile, could help raise testosterone levels in a woman and increase her libido.

  • Men use kissing to "weed out unsuitable mates"--or make themselves more attractive to "suitable" mates.

So what do you think about these possible new revelations in kissing science?

More on kissing:

Healthy Relationships: When A Kiss Leaves You Tingly All Over, You Could Be Allergic

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