Quickie: Why Kissing Is So Addictive
Research explains why we love kissing so much
What’s not to love about kissing? It’s fun, it’s sexy, and studies show that hungry, passionate kisses not only heat up your love life — they also fire up your brain chemistry. According to Lafayette College researchers, the hormone oxytocin — associated with social bonding — increases in males after kissing their partners. In addition, after a good make out session, both men and women have a drop in cortisol levels — a finding that suggests kissing reduces stress.
Kissing can also make a new relationship either flourish or fail, according to a Gallup survey. Of the poll participants asked about how first kisses can affect a relationship, 59 percent of men and 66 percent of women reported that a bad first kiss can make them quickly lose interest in a love interest. This finding has been attributed to the fact that, on a subconscious level, a kiss can let you know how suitable someone may be for you romantically.
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