Why Most People Close Their Eyes When Kissing

There's a moment just before a kiss when a decision gets made—usually without any conscious thought. Your eyes drift shut. It happens so naturally that most people never question it. But why? And what about those who buck the trend and keep their eyes wide open?

Your Brain Can't Handle It All

In 2016, psychologists at Royal Holloway, University of London, uncovered something fascinating. When people perform tactile tasks while also processing visual information, their sense of touch becomes significantly dulled. The brain, it turns out, has limited bandwidth.

Lead researcher Polly Dalton explained that closing your eyes during a kiss isn't just romantic instinct—it's your brain optimizing for sensation. By shutting down visual input, you free up mental resources to fully experience the physical sensations of the kiss itself.

The Open-Eyed Minority

But not everyone follows this pattern. Studies and surveys consistently find that a notable portion of kissers—estimates range from 20% to 40%—keep their eyes at least partially open. Their reasons vary:

• Emotional connection – Some people find that watching their partner's face deepens intimacy
• Trust and awareness – Keeping eyes open can feel safer, especially in newer relationships
• Simple preference – For some, it's just more enjoyable

There's nothing inherently strange about either approach. It's simply a matter of how different brains prioritize sensory information and emotional connection.

What Your Kiss Style Might Reveal

Psychologists have speculated—though not conclusively proven—that kiss preferences might correlate with personality traits. The theory goes that eyes-closed kissers may be more focused on internal experiences, while eyes-open kissers might be more visually oriented or attentive to their environment.

However, context matters enormously. The same person might close their eyes during an intimate moment with a long-term partner but keep them open during a first kiss with someone new. Comfort level, lighting, and even how tired you are can all play a role.

The Cultural Angle

Interestingly, the expectation that people should close their eyes while kissing is largely a Western cultural norm, reinforced by countless movie scenes and romantic imagery. In some cultures, the rules are different, and the whole concept of kissing varies dramatically.

The Tsonga people of Southern Africa reportedly found mouth-to-mouth kissing disgusting when European colonizers first arrived. Meanwhile, research published in American Anthropologist found that romantic kissing is only practiced in about 46% of world cultures.

The Bottom Line

Whether you're a devoted eye-closer or someone who prefers to watch, you're in good company. Your brain is simply doing what feels right for processing one of humanity's most universal gestures of affection. And if you've ever felt self-conscious about your kissing style, science says: don't. Your nervous system knows what it's doing.