Why is it that kissing is a sign of love/attraction, smiling/laughter is a sign of happiness, etc.?

Question

Why does kissing represent love, laughter/smiles represent happiness, etc.? Like, why couldnt standing on your head or something like that represent happiness?

basically, how did all this symbolizm evolve? why do we take things like kisses and smiles to be a representation of certain feelings (and not other feelings)?

i'm just kind of curious about that. even if you don't really have an answer to this quetion, answer anyways, just to share your speculations!

thanks =]

Answer 1

Star question.....
Let me speculate as suggested by you.

Kissing is the softest touch a person can provide to another.

Smile/laughter involve minimum tension of the nerves.

Therefore these are naturally compatible symbols for love and happiness respectively.

Answer 2

This is one of those rare questions that appears as though it would have philosophical implications, but it actually doesn't. Kissing, smiling, frowning, crying, and other expressions of emotion are instinctual, just like howling or whining is for a dog, etc. That's why these behaviors in babies appear before the baby can comprehend that other people do them, too. These are also some of the behaviors that are universal across cultures. How we greet each other, share a meal, or behave when we cross each other on the street may vary, but we all cry when we're grieved, laugh when amused, smile when happy, kiss or hug to show affection, etc.

Answer 3

That was good.. i liked it..lets see how many i have done 9. You beg your friends to get an account so you can “hang out.” 11. You purchase a vanity car license plate with your screen name on it.( ive tried that but it was already taken ) You say “SCROLL UP” when someone asks what it was you said 15. You talk on the phone with the same person you are sending an instant message to. 17. You start to experience “withdrawal” after not being online for awhile 20. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee. 24. You enter a room and get greeted by 25 people with {{{hugs}}} and ****kisses*****. 28. You get up at 2:00 AM to go to the bathroom and turn the computer on instead

Answer 4

most people don't really address the question
which is to speculate on the origins of these things
just saying its instinct doesn't answer the question
the question is how did they originate
and i don't think its completely arbitrary
or it wouldnt be so universal
i think it requires speculation
not just reciting something we read in a schoolbook

i asked this same question before
and about the handshake which is more obvious
no one seemed to know much about the kiss and smile
i was wondering if
it had anything to do with eating
the teeth are like weapons in some animals
especially ones without hands
so when you show the hands
in a wave or a handshake
you are using your weapons to say
im not going to attack you
the teeth could be the same thing
usually when an animal attacks something
it is to eat it
you got to think like an animal
if this goes far back into our past
like prehistoric man
just an idea

Answer 5

Well as far as kissing goes, i believe an area with the most sensory receptors is the face, specifically the mouth area (lips, tongue). Therefore, i would assume the love is attributed to the link of positive stimuli your brain receptors pick up on, and well naturally we tend to go towards what feels good.

As far as smiling goes, that i think is even seen in primates as a sign of friendliness and non threatening nonverbal body language.

Answer 6

It all stems from primate behavior. They laugh, smile (more in fear than happiness), tickle, groom, etc... So we do as well.


Sure, we could have evolved to peeing ourselves when sad or sticking our toes in our mouth when angry, but we didn't. The same way we can call a chair a pepper... but we don't.

Answer 7

Well, when did Santa Claus become a symbol of Christmas. Or the Easter Bunny become a symbol of Easter? Throughout histroy, symbols for almost everything are found and then widely used throughout society.

Answer 8

I can tell that smiling and lauging is definately a natural response.. our baby smiles when he's happy and he laughs when we tickle him, and he's not old enough to make learned responses..

Answer 9

It's human behavior. We get sad and we frown, we get hurt and our face shows it. Certain emotions make us blush, certain foods make us fat. People express emotions involuntarily. Maybe some people do stand on their head when they are happy, if they were taught to do so.

Answer 10

Because what do you do when you love someone? Kiss them. What do you do when you are happy? Smile. Simple