You would expect that with the virtual world at our fingertips, it should be relatively easy to locate an ideally suited partner. Yet in reality, the Internet has made navigating the dating landscape more challenging than ever. As I spent the past two years composing “The Science of Kissing,” I learned a great deal about what attracts two people together. It turns out that real chemistry involves many nonverbal signals that are impossible to detect when searching for love from behind a laptop.
My latest article in The Statesman. Read on…
As Valentine’s Day approaches, kissing is a popular topic. And as the most intimate human experience, the right exchange has the power to start and maintain a special relationship when real chemistry is involved.
Why is kissing so significant? When we are that close to another person, all of our senses are engaged, allowing our bodies to assess compatibility and the potential for a long-term relationship. According to the work of Rutgers University anthropologist Helen Fisher, this behavior evolved to facilitate three essential needs: sex drive, romantic love and attachment. In other words, kissing helps us find partners, commit to one person and keep couples together long enough to have a child.
A good romantic kiss quickens our pulse and dilates our pupils, which is probably part of the reason so many of us close our eyes. Our brains receive more oxygen than normal and breathing can become irregular and deepen. Our cheeks flush, too, but that’s only the beginning…
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