You crave kissing due to a powerful mix of brain chemicals like dopamine (pleasure/reward) and oxytocin (bonding), which create addictive feelings and closeness, satisfying deep needs for connection, affection, and intimacy, often heightened by loneliness or attraction, a strong urge sometimes called "basorexia". It's a natural human behavior linked to love, reassurance, and bonding, releasing happy hormones and reducing stress.
Yes -- craving another kiss from a crush a few days after you kissed them is normal. Human attraction and affection trigger biological, psychological, and social responses that commonly create a desire for repeat physical closeness.
The nerve endings in lips also activate feelings of closeness and attachment by arousing the brain's love chemicals such as oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that gives us that wonderful, weak-kneed feeling. And the chemicals that produce that feeling prompt you to want to kiss more and create more, like a love drug.
Basorexia means the overwhelming desire, or sudden urge, to kiss someone.
The 90/10 kissing rule, popularized by the movie Hitch, suggests that one person leans in 90% of the way for a kiss and pauses, allowing the other person to close the remaining 10%, which signals their consent and involvement, preventing it from feeling forced and creating anticipation. This technique gives the other person control, allowing them to either lean in for the kiss or pull away, indicating their comfort level.
But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.
Release of dopamine
When kissing, dopamine is released, which is responsible for feelings of euphoria and pleasure. It also has an addictive effect, which is why you might not want to stop locking lips.
The four stages of limerence describe the obsessive, fantasy-driven experience of intense romantic longing, typically progressing from initial Attraction/Infatuation, where curiosity grows into idealization, to Obsession, marked by intrusive thoughts and longing, then through Elation & Despair, depending on perceived reciprocation, and finally to a Resolution, where feelings fade into stable attachment or detachment, potentially leading to transformation or heartbreak.
Emophilia means the tendency to fall in love quickly, easily, and frequently, often described as "emotional promiscuity," where individuals rapidly develop intense romantic feelings, say "I love you" early, and jump into relationships, sometimes overlooking red flags for the exhilarating experience of new love. It's a personality trait linked to chasing excitement and romantic stimulation, differing from attachment anxiety (fear-based) by being a reward-seeking approach. High emophilia can lead to risky behaviors, unhealthy attachments, and difficulty forming stable relationships, according to Psychology Today.
Basorexia is described as an intense craving or compulsion to kiss someone. The word comes from the Greek 'basium' (kiss) and 'orexis' (appetite), literally meaning a 'hunger for kissing'. It is not a recognized clinical disorder, but rather a descriptive term used to explain this strikingly strong urge.
Avoiding physical closeness—avoiding sex or severely reducing sexual contact; eluding physical affection; avoiding proximity/closeness (e.g., hugging, kissing, holding hands, sitting close; avoiding sharing the same bed; walking ahead or behind, etc.); also may retreat when affection is offered.
Plenty. If the kiss lingers and you can feel his passion through his lips, he likes you. If the kiss ends abruptly, he might not be into it, or maybe his nerves got the best of him. Most men have a lot to think about while they're kissing you.
A Man Can't Resist Your Touch In THESE 7 Places
-Overall, kissing is much more necessary for women compared to guys in having a rewarding sexual knowledge. -Overall men prefer wetter kisses with additional tongue than perform ladies. -Both genders chosen a lot more tongue with lasting lovers.
Yes, kissing plays a significant role in strengthening emotional bonds for men. Through the release of bonding hormones and the intimate nature of the act, kissing helps create deeper emotional connections, increases trust, and improves overall relationship satisfaction.
The 7-7-7 rule for couples is a guideline for maintaining strong connection by scheduling dedicated time: a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway (or night away) every 7 weeks, and a longer, kid-free vacation every 7 months, all designed to fight drift and routine by ensuring consistent, intentional quality time, though flexibility is key.
5: Our Own Needs, Emotions and Desires.
The highest level of intimacy, requires the greatest amount of trust in our relationship. It is only when we feel truly safe with somebody, that we become willing to share the deepest core of who we are. It's up close and personal.
Limerence is equally common in men and women, whatever their sexuality, but there is one group that seems to be especially prone to the experience: those with an anxious attachment style.
Basorexia is defined as an intense craving or obsession for kissing. Individuals with a heightened sense of basorexia may have an underlying need for intimacy. Basorexia has been associated with the release of dopamine.
Nape of the Neck: Place soft kisses along the nape, moving slowly from the hairline downward. Lightly graze the area with your teeth or fingertips. Side of the Neck: Kiss and lick the sides of the neck, alternating with gentle sucking. Pay attention to your partner's reactions to find the most sensitive spots.
Kissing gives comfort to the body. The heart releases the chemical oxytocin dopamine serotonin into the recreation centers of the brain. Oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, helps you to connect deeply arousing feelings of love and attachment.
📖 According to relationship psychologists, just 10 minutes of fully present, uninterrupted conversation a day can significantly improve emotional intimacy between partners, friends — even colleagues. It's called the 10-Minute Talk Rule.
survived the dreaded two-year mark (i.e. the most common time period when couples break up), then you're destined to be together forever… right? Unfortunately, the two-year mark isn't the only relationship test to pass, nor do you get to relax before the seven-year itch.
Take them in the spirit in which they are offered—as a a lens to think about your own relationship. This blog is part of a series on the five Cs: Chemistry, Commonality, Constructive Conflict, Courtesy and Commitment.