Transcript Sex Differences in Romantic Kissing Among College

By: Deanna Duermit, Mikayla Mowzoon, Jenna Tioseco
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing among college
students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Purpose & Participants
 The study provides a descriptive account of kissing
behavior by measuring attitudes, preferences, and sex
differences and considers kissing within the context of
both short-term and long-term mating situations among a
large sample of college students that were enrolled in
psychology classes at the University of Albany and State
University of New York.
 1,041 college students enrolled in psychology classes at the
University of Albany, State University of New York
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic
kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #1
 Hypothesis: Kissing as a mate assessment device
Given that males are less sensitive to chemosensory cues, making such
assessments of a female’s fertility by means of kissing may be more difficult, and
we suggest that males may require greater salivary exchange to facilitate
assessments of female fertility and, for that reason, prefer wetter, open mouth,
tongue kisses.
Report attitudes and experiences regarding kissing behavior in regards to:
 Short vs. Long-term relationships
 Tongue kissing
 Kissing in regards to sexual behavior
501 Participants
470 Sample- not counting those who have never kissed and prefer same sex
relations/kissing
Questions were based on a 5-pt Likert scale
 Breath and Taste
 Kissing and Sexual behavior
 Bonding and Relationships
 Salivary Exchange
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Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic
kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #1 Results
 Breath and taste
 More Females than males rated breath and taste of mouth as
more important when deciding to kiss or continue kissing
someone
 Kissing and sexual behavior
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Females thought kissing leads to sex more often with a long term partner
than a short term partner. Men thought kissing lead to sex on the same
degree no matter the relationship status.
Females put greater importance on kissing in comparison to males
 Bonding and relationships
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For males, importance of kissing decreases over time in a relationship,
for females it remains constant
 Salivary exchange
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Interaction: men constantly preferred wetter kisses, women preferred
wetter kisses with long term partner than with short term
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic
kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #2
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Hypothesis: Kissing induces bonding
 When it comes to short-term mating, men may avoid women who demand serious commitments
or investments before consenting to sex. Therefore, men may place less importance on kissing
with short-term mates to avoid creating a bond.
 The benefits afforded to females who pursue short-term mating strategies are different than
those for males. Reasons why females engage in short-term mating may include gaining
resources, achieving genetic diversity among their children, mate switching, or current mate
manipulation. In these instances, creating a bond with a short-term mate may be more likely, so
the idea of kissing
Elaboration and part replication of Study #1
 273 Participants
 257 Sample
 Questions based on 5-pt Likert scale
 Kissing and sexual behavior
 Bonding and relationships
 Salivary exchange
 Attractiveness and Kissing
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic
kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #2 Results
 Kissing and sexual behavior
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Interaction: males more likely to have sex without kissing a
short time partner versus females, and males and females the
same for not kissing a long-term partner
 Bonding and relationships
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Greater bond created by kissing after sex with a long-term
partner
 Salivary exchange
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Males prefer more tongue contact on a first kiss
 Kissing and Attractiveness
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Males more likely to kiss or have sex with someone they were
not attracted to
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing
among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #3
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Hypothesis: Kissing Increases Sexual Arousal and Receptivity
 Kissing can be viewed as an activity that increases sexual arousal and receptivity. There is
evidence that males, in particular, use kissing as an attempt to “seduce” romantic partners and
kissing may be used by men as a strategy to gain sexual access to females.
 One possibility is that men may use kissing to introduce hormones or proteins into women’s
mouths, thereby manipulating their mating psychology, and making them more likely to have
sex. It is also possible that males may perceive a greater wetness or salivary exchange during
kissing as an index of the female’s sexual arousal/ receptivity, similar to the act of sexual
intercourse.
Examined perceived importance of kissing practices, attitudes towards kissing, and assessment of
partners
 267 Participants
 250 Sample
 Questions based on 5-pt Likert scale
 Kissing and Sexual Behavior
 Salivary Exchange and Jealousy
 Attractiveness and Kissing
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing
among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Study #3 Results
 Kissing and sexual behavior
 Males more likely to kiss someone they just wanted to
have sex with and not have a relationship with
 Salivary exchange and jealousy
 More jealousy occurs when their partner kisses another member
of the opposite sex when tongue contact occurs verses no tongue
contact.
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic
kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.
Discussion Points
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Out of 1,041 respondents, all aged 18 or older, only 5 individuals reported never having romantically
kissed another person. About 70% of the sample acknowledged kissing 6 or more people, while 20%
estimated having kissed more than 20 people.
There were no or little sex differences in the number of kissing partners, nor were there sex
differences in the age of experiencing one’s first romantic kiss.
Overall, the data showed that males feel kissing should lead to sex more often where as females do
just the opposite. Females felt there was a greater likelihood that kissing should lead to sex with a
long-term partner than a short-term partner, males felt that in either instance, kissing should lead to
sex. Males also categorized a “good kiss” as one that leads to sex and one where “my partner makes
moaning noises,” which may signal arousal and receptivity.
Video Clip: Friends
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGoC8FTLKSI
Discussion Questions:
 Do you feel that the results of this study parallel the female/male interaction here at LMU?
 What do you find the most intriguing about these results?
 Do you feel like the results are accurate to generalize amongst all college students?
Hughes, S. M., Harrison , M. A., & Gallup, G. G. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing
among college students: An evolutionary perspective. 5(3), 612-631.